diff --git a/virtualenv.py b/virtualenv.py
index 5699998..55c7321 100755
--- a/virtualenv.py
+++ b/virtualenv.py
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ except ImportError:
 __version__ = "15.1.0"
 virtualenv_version = __version__  # legacy
 
-if sys.version_info < (2, 6):
+if sys.version_info < (2, 7):
     print('ERROR: %s' % sys.exc_info()[1])
-    print('ERROR: this script requires Python 2.6 or greater.')
+    print('ERROR: this script requires Python 2.7 or greater.')
     sys.exit(101)
 
 try:
@@ -399,6 +399,7 @@ def _find_file(filename, dirs):
 def file_search_dirs():
     here = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     dirs = [here, join(here, 'virtualenv_support')]
+    dirs.insert(1, '/usr/share/python{}-wheels'.format(sys.version_info[0]))
     if os.path.splitext(os.path.dirname(__file__))[0] != 'virtualenv':
         # Probably some boot script; just in case virtualenv is installed...
         try: