diff --git a/precise/python-venv/hooks/install b/precise/python-venv/hooks/install
index 81a25f9..36db804 100755
--- a/precise/python-venv/hooks/install
+++ b/precise/python-venv/hooks/install
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 set -eux # -x for verbose logging to juju debug-log
 
-VERSION="2.7.5"
+VERSION=${VERSION:-"2.7.9"}
 
 ##
 ## INSTALL Python