diff --git a/IPython/utils/process.py b/IPython/utils/process.py
index 6c66335..d9aab85 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/process.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/process.py
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ def find_cmd(cmd):
 
     This function tries to determine the full path to a command line program
     using `which` on Unix/Linux/OS X and `win32api` on Windows.  Most of the
-    time it will use the version that is first on the users `PATH`.  If
-    cmd is `python` return `sys.executable`.
+    time it will use the version that is first on the users `PATH`.
 
     Warning, don't use this to find IPython command line programs as there
     is a risk you will find the wrong one.  Instead find those using the
@@ -59,8 +58,6 @@ def find_cmd(cmd):
     cmd : str
         The command line program to look for.
     """
-    if cmd in ('python', os.path.basename(sys.executable)):
-        return os.path.abspath(sys.executable)
     try:
         path = _find_cmd(cmd).rstrip()
     except OSError:
diff --git a/IPython/utils/tests/test_process.py b/IPython/utils/tests/test_process.py
index 787e194..6e7f282 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/tests/test_process.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/tests/test_process.py
@@ -31,11 +31,7 @@ python = os.path.basename(sys.executable)
 # Tests
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-def test_find_cmd_python():
-    """Make sure we find sys.exectable for python."""
-    nt.assert_equal(find_cmd(python), sys.executable)
 
-    
 @dec.skip_win32
 def test_find_cmd_ls():
     """Make sure we can find the full path to ls."""