diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_python_cplusplus.yml b/.github/workflows/test_python_cplusplus.yml
index 0342843cbb..77dc53e997 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_python_cplusplus.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_python_cplusplus.yml
@@ -175,6 +175,10 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         scripts/run-cppcheck.sh
 
+    - name: dbg
+      run: |
+        which python && python --version && command -v python3 && echo $(dirname $(dirname $(which python))) 
+
     - name: Python tests
       run: |
         scripts/run-python-tests.sh
diff --git a/scripts/buildAmici.sh b/scripts/buildAmici.sh
index 735e05fd3b..bf661ec03c 100755
--- a/scripts/buildAmici.sh
+++ b/scripts/buildAmici.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ fi
 ${cmake} \
   -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS="-Wall -Wextra -Werror" \
   -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$build_type \
-  -DPython3_EXECUTABLE="$(command -v python3)" ..
+  -DPython3_EXECUTABLE="$(command -v python3)" \
+  -DPython3_ROOT_DIR=$(dirname $(dirname $(command -v python3))) \
+  ..
 
 # build, with or without sonarcloud wrapper
 if [ "${CI_SONARCLOUD:-}" = "TRUE" ]; then