diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 4fd6da718f..a56ea160c2 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -12635,7 +12635,7 @@ except: exit(1)'
 testsetup='try: from distutils.core import setup
 except: exit(1)'
 
-default_with_python="python python3 python3.7 python3.6 python3.5 python3.4 python3.3 python3.2 python2 python2.7"
+default_with_python="python python3 python3.8 python3.7 python3.6 python3.5 python3.4 python3.3 python3.2 python2 python2.7"
 
 
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e5f4cfff38..e0b4d79a74 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ except: exit(1)'
 testsetup='try: from distutils.core import setup
 except: exit(1)'
 
-default_with_python="python python3 python3.7 python3.6 python3.5 python3.4 python3.3 python3.2 python2 python2.7"
+default_with_python="python python3 python3.8 python3.7 python3.6 python3.5 python3.4 python3.3 python3.2 python2 python2.7"
 
 AC_ARG_VAR([PYTHON], [path to python executable])