diff --git a/lib/configure.js b/lib/configure.js
index 618d96babe..a60ef139be 100644
--- a/lib/configure.js
+++ b/lib/configure.js
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@ PythonFinder.prototype = {
   stat: fs.stat,
   which: which,
   win: win,
+  badVersion: '',
 
   checkPython: function checkPython () {
     this.log.verbose('check python',
@@ -468,6 +469,9 @@ PythonFinder.prototype = {
       var valid = false
       try {
         valid = range.test(version)
+        if (!valid){
+          this.badVersion = version
+        }
       } catch (e) {
         this.log.silly('range.test() error', e)
       }
@@ -476,29 +480,27 @@ PythonFinder.prototype = {
       } else if (this.win && this.checkPythonLauncherDepth === 0) {
         this.checkPythonLauncher()
       } else {
-        this.failPythonVersion(version)
+        this.failPythonVersion()
       }
     }.bind(this))
   },
 
   failNoPython: function failNoPython () {
-    const err = new Error(
-      '\n******************************************************************\n' +
-      `node-gyp can't use "${this.python}",\n` +
-      'It is recommended that you install python 2.7, set the PYTHON env,\n' +
-      'or use the --python switch to point to a Python >= v2.6.0 & < 3.0.0.\n' +
-      'For more information consult the documentation at:\n' +
-      'https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp#installation\n' +
-      '***********************************************************************'
-    );
-    err.noPython = true;
-    this.callback(err)
+    if (this.badVersion != '') {
+      // win scenario, where we found python but invalid version. No other python versions found
+      this.failPythonVersion()
+    }
+
+    var errmsg =
+      'Can\'t find Python executable "' + this.python +
+      '", you can set the PYTHON env variable.'
+    this.callback(new Error(errmsg))
   },
 
   failPythonVersion: function failPythonVersion (badVersion) {
     const err = new Error(
       '\n******************************************************************\n' +
-      `Python executable "${this.python}" is v${badVersion}\n` +
+      `Python executable "${this.python}" is v${this.badVersion}\n` +
       'this version is not supported by GYP and hence by node-gyp.\n' +
       'It is recommended that you install python 2.7, set the PYTHON env,\n' +
       'or use the --python switch to point to a Python >= v2.6.0 & < 3.0.0.\n' +
@@ -513,6 +515,7 @@ PythonFinder.prototype = {
   // Called on Windows when "python" isn't available in the current $PATH.
   // We are going to check if "%SystemDrive%\python27\python.exe" exists.
   guessPython: function guessPython () {
+    this.checkPythonLauncherDepth += 1
     this.log.verbose('could not find "' + this.python + '". guessing location')
     var rootDir = this.env.SystemDrive || 'C:\\'
     if (rootDir[rootDir.length - 1] !== '\\') {