diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0e18e2fa5..a7d225269 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -379,7 +379,8 @@ BOOST_PYTHON_LIB ?= $(shell \
 	$(call CHECK_BOOST_PYTHON,boost_python-py$(subst .,,$(PYTHON_VERSION))) || \
 	$(call CHECK_BOOST_PYTHON,boost_python-py$(PYTHON_MAJOR_VERSION)) || \
 	$(call CHECK_BOOST_PYTHON,boost_python$(subst .,,$(PYTHON_VERSION))) || \
-	$(call CHECK_BOOST_PYTHON,boost_python$(PYTHON_MAJOR_VERSION)) \
+	$(call CHECK_BOOST_PYTHON,boost_python$(PYTHON_MAJOR_VERSION)) || \
+	$(call CHECK_BOOST_PYTHON,boost_python) \
 )
 
 ifeq ($(BOOST_PYTHON_LIB),)