diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 1bf52319..b7d27ea0 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ fi
 printf "Checking for python... "
 have_python=0
 
-for name in ${PYTHON} python python2 python3; do
+for name in ${PYTHON} python3 python python2; do
     if command -v $name > /dev/null; then
 	have_python=1
 	python=$name
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index c53ba20a..51129886 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Build-Depends:
  python3-all (>= 3.1.2-7~),
  dh-python,
  dh-elpa (>= 1.3),
- python-sphinx (>= 1.0),
+ python3-sphinx,
  ruby, ruby-dev (>>1:1.9.3~),
  emacs25-nox | emacs25 (>=25~) | emacs25-lucid (>=25~) |
  emacs24-nox | emacs24 (>=24~) | emacs24-lucid (>=24~) |