diff --git a/common/configure_fresh_system b/common/configure_fresh_system
index d6e2a2c9..5695a7a6 100755
--- a/common/configure_fresh_system
+++ b/common/configure_fresh_system
@@ -170,16 +170,21 @@ $SUDO npm install -g reveal-md
 echo "Installing fancy differ"
 $SUDO npm install -g diff-so-fancy
 
-pip3_path=`which pip3`
-if [[ -z $NOPYTHON3 && -x pip3_path ]]; then
-    PIP=pip3
-else
-    PIP=pip
+if [[ -z $NOPYTHON3 ]]; then
+    pip3_path=`which pip3`
+    echo "pip3 path is $pip3_path"
+    if [[ -x pip3_path ]]; then
+        echo "Choosing pip3 for pip"
+        PIP=pip3
+    else
+        echo "Choosing pip"
+        PIP=pip
+    fi
+    echo "Installing Nikola"
+    $SUDO $PIP install pygments-style-solarized ws4py watchdog webassets Nikola
+    fi
 fi
 
-echo "Installing Nikola"
-$SUDO $PIP install pygments-style-solarized ws4py watchdog webassets Nikola
-
 if [[ -z $USER ]]; then
     USER=`whoami`
 fi