diff --git a/abiword.spec b/abiword.spec
index b39b688..d941597 100644
--- a/abiword.spec
+++ b/abiword.spec
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ BuildRequires: telepathy-glib-devel
 BuildRequires: wv-devel
 BuildRequires: zlib-devel
 
+# the python2 module deoesn't build without this
+# TODO investigate, get rid of the depndency
+BuildRequires: python-unversioned-command
+
 Requires: libabiword = %{epoch}:%{version}-%{release}
 
 %description
@@ -116,6 +120,8 @@ cd abiword-docs-3.0.1
 # build libabiword and abiword
 cd $RPM_BUILD_DIR/abiword-%{version}
 
+export PYTHON=%{__python2}
+
 autoreconf -vif
 
 %configure --enable-plugins --enable-clipart --enable-templates --enable-introspection
@@ -128,6 +134,7 @@ ABI_DOC_PROG=$(pwd)/../%{name}-%{version}/src/abiword ./make-html.sh
 
 %install
 cd $RPM_BUILD_DIR/abiword-%{version}
+export PYTHON=%{__python2}
 make install DESTDIR=%{buildroot}
 
 # Register as an application to be visible in the software center