diff --git a/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt b/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 93fd50a56e290e554dcc680468c983623f534c0b..854a2c628004e5228d62d40663f58ec1a3957456 100644
--- a/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ if(NOT BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
   message(ERROR "Python bindings are only supported for shared libraries")
 endif()
 
+find_package(PythonLibsNew REQUIRED)
+
 pybind11_add_module(adios2py MODULE
   ADIOSPy.h
   ADIOSPy.cpp