diff --git a/tools/python_compile_check.sh b/tools/python_compile_check.sh
index 3221756c..2615f958 100755
--- a/tools/python_compile_check.sh
+++ b/tools/python_compile_check.sh
@@ -2,4 +2,11 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 # Run python -m compileall quietly to catch syntax errors in the repo.
-python -m compileall -q .
+if command -v python3 &>/dev/null; then
+    python3 -m compileall -q .
+elif command -v python &>/dev/null; then
+    python -m compileall -q .
+else
+    echo "Error: neither python3 nor python found."
+    exit 1
+fi