diff --git a/changelog.d/4057.bugfix b/changelog.d/4057.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..757773125
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/4057.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+synctl will use the right python executable to run worker processes
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synctl b/synctl
index 4bd4c68b3..bb8cb084c 100755
--- a/synctl
+++ b/synctl
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ def start(configfile):
 
 def start_worker(app, configfile, worker_configfile):
     args = [
-        "python", "-B",
+        sys.executable, "-B",
         "-m", app,
         "-c", configfile,
         "-c", worker_configfile