diff --git a/tools/idf.py b/tools/idf.py
index 3cba357a5..eeb51cccf 100755
--- a/tools/idf.py
+++ b/tools/idf.py
@@ -448,7 +448,8 @@ def init_cli(verbose_output=None):
                     for o, f in flash_items:
                         cmd += o + " " + flasher_path(f) + " "
 
-                print("%s -p %s -b %s --before %s --after %s write_flash %s" % (
+                print("%s %s -p %s -b %s --before %s --after %s write_flash %s" % (
+                    PYTHON,
                     _safe_relpath("%s/components/esptool_py/esptool/esptool.py" % os.environ["IDF_PATH"]),
                     args.port or "(PORT)",
                     args.baud,