diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/api.py b/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/api.py
index 067fc5b123..592ea06cb1 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/api.py
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/api.py
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ class Gitiles(recipe_api.RecipeApi):
       args.extend([
           '--accept-statuses',
           ','.join([str(s) for s in accept_statuses])])
-    return self.m.python(
-        step_name, self.resource('gerrit_client.py'), args, **kwargs)
+    cmd = ['python3', '-u', self.resource('gerrit_client.py')] + args
+    return self.m.step(step_name, cmd, **kwargs)
 
   def refs(self, url, step_name='refs', attempts=None):
     """Returns a list of refs in the remote repository."""
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/examples/full.expected/basic.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/examples/full.expected/basic.json
index 6caa1ff29e..a9fbd069af 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/examples/full.expected/basic.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/examples/full.expected/basic.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@
   },
   {
     "cmd": [
-      "python",
+      "python3",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::gitiles]/resources/gerrit_client.py",
       "--json-file",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/resources/gerrit_client.py b/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/resources/gerrit_client.py
index a4ad62e099..bdc68dce8e 100755
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/resources/gerrit_client.py
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/gitiles/resources/gerrit_client.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
 # Copyright 2014 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
 # Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 # found in the LICENSE file.