diff --git a/meta/classes/pythonnative.bbclass b/meta/classes/pythonnative.bbclass
index fdd22bbc86..97029dc525 100644
--- a/meta/classes/pythonnative.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/pythonnative.bbclass
@@ -2,5 +2,7 @@
 inherit python-dir
 
 PYTHON="${STAGING_BINDIR_NATIVE}/${PYTHON_PN}-native/${PYTHON_PN}"
+# PYTHON_EXECUTABLE is used by cmake
+PYTHON_EXECUTABLE="${PYTHON}"
 EXTRANATIVEPATH += "${PYTHON_PN}-native"
 DEPENDS += " ${PYTHON_PN}-native "