diff --git a/fetch b/fetch
index bea6718c77..14a142791b 100755
--- a/fetch
+++ b/fetch
@@ -5,4 +5,8 @@
 
 base_dir=$(dirname "$0")
 
-PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1 exec python "$base_dir/fetch.py" "$@"
+# Ensure that "depot_tools" is somewhere in PATH so this tool can be used
+# standalone, but allow other PATH manipulations to take priority.
+PATH=$PATH:$base_dir
+
+PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1 exec vpython "$base_dir/fetch.py" "$@"
diff --git a/fetch.bat b/fetch.bat
index 5f8019a19d..6afd53092c 100755
--- a/fetch.bat
+++ b/fetch.bat
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ call "%~dp0\update_depot_tools.bat"
 set PATH=%PATH%;%~dp0
 
 :: Defer control.
-python "%~dp0\fetch.py" %*
+vpython "%~dp0\fetch.py" %*
diff --git a/fetch.py b/fetch.py
index 56abfb9a6d..72e52c7967 100755
--- a/fetch.py
+++ b/fetch.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env vpython
 # Copyright (c) 2013 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
 # Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 # found in the LICENSE file.