diff --git a/plugins/python/README.md b/plugins/python/README.md
index 97c1a34ee..7bf1b34ac 100644
--- a/plugins/python/README.md
+++ b/plugins/python/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ plugins=(... python)
 
 | Command          | Description                                                                            |
 | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `py`             | Runs `python3`                                                                         |
+| `py`             | Runs `python3`. Only set if `py` is not installed.                                     |
 | `ipython`        | Runs the appropriate `ipython` version according to the activated virtualenv           |
 | `pyfind`         | Finds .py files recursively in the current directory                                   |
 | `pyclean [dirs]` | Deletes byte-code and cache files from a list of directories or the current one        |
diff --git a/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh b/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh
index 2fbb59577..3d7ca55c9 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-# python command
-alias py='python3'
+# set python command if 'py' not installed
+builtin which py > /dev/null || alias py='python3'
 
 # Find python file
 alias pyfind='find . -name "*.py"'