diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/sip.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/sip.py
index d40be9d3c9d..814aa2605b7 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/sip.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/sip.py
@@ -99,7 +99,9 @@ def configure(self, spec, prefix):
 
         args = self.configure_args()
 
-        python_include_dir = 'python' + str(spec['python'].version.up_to(2))
+        python_include_dir = os.path.basename(
+            inspect.getmodule(self).python_include_dir
+        )
 
         args.extend([
             '--verbose',