diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 100a5ee7..c2a2f53c 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ option('with-lua', type: 'string', value: 'luajit',
 option('with-perl', type: 'string', value: 'perl',
   description: 'Perl scripting plugin, value is path to perl executable or "false"'
 )
-option('with-python', type: 'string', value: 'python3',
+option('with-python', type: 'string', value: 'python3-embed',
   description: 'Python scripting plugin. value is pkg-config name to use or "false"'
 )
 option('with-sysinfo', type: 'boolean',
