diff --git a/lib/configure.js b/lib/configure.js
index 35e6787d1f..a42abe5972 100644
--- a/lib/configure.js
+++ b/lib/configure.js
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ PythonFinder.prototype = {
   },
 
   checkPythonVersion: function checkPythonVersion () {
-    var args = ['-c', 'import sys; print "%s.%s.%s" % sys.version_info[:3];']
+    var args = ['-c', 'import sys; print("%s.%s.%s" % sys.version_info[:3]);']
     var env = extend({}, this.env)
     env.TERM = 'dumb'