diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/shebang.sh b/test/sanity/code-smell/shebang.sh
index 9e9943db6b..b392e8f981 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/shebang.sh
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/shebang.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ grep '^#!' -RIn . 2>/dev/null | grep ':1:' | sed 's/:1:/:/' | grep -v -E \
     -e '/.tox/' \
     -e '^\./lib/ansible/modules/' \
     -e '^\./test/integration/targets/[^/]*/library/[^/]*:#!powershell$' \
+    -e '^\./test/sanity/validate-modules/validate-modules:#!/usr/bin/env python2$' \
     -e ':#!/bin/sh$' \
     -e ':#!/bin/bash( -[eux]|$)' \
     -e ':#!/usr/bin/make -f$' \
diff --git a/test/sanity/validate-modules/validate-modules b/test/sanity/validate-modules/validate-modules
index 82889e020a..8b7412876d 100755
--- a/test/sanity/validate-modules/validate-modules
+++ b/test/sanity/validate-modules/validate-modules
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env python2
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2015 Matt Martz <matt@sivel.net>