diff --git a/planemo/options.py b/planemo/options.py
index 867d637c2..bf20c7215 100644
--- a/planemo/options.py
+++ b/planemo/options.py
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def galaxy_python_version():
         "--galaxy_python_version",
         use_global_config=True,
         default=None,
-        type=click.Choice(["3", "3.7", "3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11"]),
+        type=click.Choice(["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]),
         help="Python version to start Galaxy under",
     )
 
diff --git a/planemo/virtualenv.py b/planemo/virtualenv.py
index d951f5cf4..b2a05783d 100644
--- a/planemo/virtualenv.py
+++ b/planemo/virtualenv.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from galaxy.util.commands import which
 
-DEFAULT_PYTHON_VERSION = os.environ.get("PLANEMO_DEFAULT_PYTHON_VERSION", "3")
+DEFAULT_PYTHON_VERSION = os.environ.get("PLANEMO_DEFAULT_PYTHON_VERSION", "3.12")
 
 
 def create_command(virtualenv_path: str, galaxy_python_version: Optional[str] = None) -> str: