diff --git a/virtualenv.py b/virtualenv.py
index 2ad2695..a0ddfaf 100755
--- a/virtualenv.py
+++ b/virtualenv.py
@@ -400,6 +400,9 @@ def _find_file(filename, dirs):
 def file_search_dirs():
     here = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     dirs = [here, join(here, 'virtualenv_support')]
+    if sys.version_info >= (2, 7):
+        # we don't insert on 2.6 because the wheels there are not compatible
+        dirs.insert(1, '/usr/share/python-wheels')
     if os.path.splitext(os.path.dirname(__file__))[0] != 'virtualenv':
         # Probably some boot script; just in case virtualenv is installed...
         try: