diff --git a/debian/debian_config.py b/debian/debian_config.py
index ad7d81bb..8522f397 100644
--- a/debian/debian_config.py
+++ b/debian/debian_config.py
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ PROJECT_NAME = 'chrono'
 #
 # hobotization (multitenant)
 #
-execfile('/usr/lib/hobo/debian_config_common.py')
+exec(open('/usr/lib/hobo/debian_config_common.py').read())
 
 #
 # local settings
 #
-execfile(os.path.join(ETC_DIR, 'settings.py'))
+exec(open(os.path.join(ETC_DIR, 'settings.py').read()))
 
 # run additional settings snippets
-execfile('/usr/lib/hobo/debian_config_settings_d.py')
+exec(open('/usr/lib/hobo/debian_config_settings_d.py').read())