diff --git a/cmake/IgnPython.cmake b/cmake/IgnPython.cmake
index 57e4362a..6ad11801 100644
--- a/cmake/IgnPython.cmake
+++ b/cmake/IgnPython.cmake
@@ -36,4 +36,10 @@ else()
     set(Python3_Interpreter_FOUND ${PYTHONINTERP_FOUND})
     set(Python3_EXECUTABLE ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE})
   endif()
-endif()
\ No newline at end of file
+endif()
+
+# Tick-tock PYTHON_EXECUTABLE until Python3_EXECUTABLE is released
+# TODO(jrivero) ign-cmake3: start the deprecation cycle of PYTHON_EXECUTABLE
+if(Python3_EXECUTABLE AND NOT PYTHON_EXECUTABLE)
+  set(PYTHON_EXECUTABLE ${Python3_EXECUTABLE})
+endif()