diff --git a/.github/workflows/python.yml b/.github/workflows/python.yml
index 5444769c3..6f78645b5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
       - name: Build wheel
         run: |
-          python setup.py bdist_wheel
+          BAZELISK="$(which bazelisk)" python setup.py bdist_wheel
           python -m auditwheel repair --wheel-dir=. dist/*
         shell: bash
         working-directory: python
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
       - name: Build wheel
         run: |
-          python setup.py bdist_wheel \
+          BAZELISK="$(which bazelisk)" python setup.py bdist_wheel \
             --plat-name=macosx-${{ matrix.os }}.0-${{ matrix.arch.python-name }}
           python -m delocate.cmd.delocate_wheel --wheel-dir=. dist/*
         shell: bash
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
       - name: Build wheel
         run: |
-          python setup.py bdist_wheel \
+          BAZELISK="$(which bazelisk)" python setup.py bdist_wheel \
             --plat-name=${{ matrix.arch.python-name }}
           python -m delvewheel --wheel-dir=. dist/*
         shell: bash
diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index a05c798b8..5e292ac81 100644
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@
 class BuildExt(setuptools.command.build_ext.build_ext):
 
   def build_extension(self, ext):
-    if 'GITHUB_ACTIONS' not in os.environ:
+    if 'BAZELISK' not in os.environ:
       return super().build_extension(ext)
 
     # For @pybind11_bazel's `python_configure()`.
     os.environ['PYTHON_BIN_PATH'] = sys.executable
 
-    cmd = ['bazelisk', 'build']
+    cmd = [os.environ['BAZELISK'], 'build']
     if 'BAZEL_CPU' in os.environ:
       cmd.append(f'--cpu={os.environ["BAZEL_CPU"].lower()}')
     cmd += ['--compilation_mode=opt', '--', ':all']
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def build_extension(self, ext):
     shutil.copyfile('../bazel-bin/python/_re2.so',
                     self.get_ext_fullpath(ext.name))
 
-    cmd = ['bazelisk', 'clean', '--expunge']
+    cmd = [os.environ['BAZELISK'], 'clean', '--expunge']
     self.spawn(cmd)