diff --git a/lib/configure.js b/lib/configure.js
index 4e0652961e..22251ba725 100644
--- a/lib/configure.js
+++ b/lib/configure.js
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ function findPython (python, callback) {
           return checkPython()
         }
         if (win) {
-          guessPython()
+          checkPythonLauncher()
         } else {
           failNoPython()
         }
@@ -340,6 +340,31 @@ function findPython (python, callback) {
     })
   }
 
+  // Distributions of Python on Windows by default install with the "py.exe"
+  // Python launcher which is more likely to exist than the Python executable
+  // being in the $PATH.
+  // Because the Python launcher supports all versions of Python, we have to
+  // explicitly request a Python 2 version. This is done by supplying "-2" as
+  // the first command line argument. Since "py.exe -2" would be an invalid
+  // executable for "execFile", we have to use the launcher to figure out
+  // where the actual "python.exe" executable is located.
+  function checkPythonLauncher () {
+    log.verbose('could not find "' + python + '". checking python launcher')
+    var env = extend({}, process.env)
+    env.TERM = 'dumb'
+
+    var launcherArgs = ['-2', '-c', 'import sys; print sys.executable']
+    execFile('py.exe', launcherArgs, { env: env }, function (err, stdout) {
+      if (err) {
+        guessPython()
+        return
+      }
+      python = stdout.trim()
+      log.verbose('check python launcher', 'python executable found: %j', python)
+      checkPythonVersion()
+    })
+  }
+
   // Called on Windows when "python" isn't available in the current $PATH.
   // We're gonna check if "%SystemDrive%\python27\python.exe" exists.
   function guessPython () {