diff --git a/pyoxidizer.bzl b/pyoxidizer.bzl
index f0ced4ae..6904dfcd 100644
--- a/pyoxidizer.bzl
+++ b/pyoxidizer.bzl
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def make_exe():
     # Obtain the default PythonDistribution for our build target.  We link this
     # distribution into our produced executable and extract the Python standard
     # library from it.
-    python_dist = default_python_distribution()
+    python_dist = default_python_distribution(python_version = "3.8")
 
     # This function creates a `PythonPackagingPolicy` instance, which
     # influences how executables are built and how resources are added to the