diff --git a/circus/commands/util.py b/circus/commands/util.py
index 3447b5955..be1932b89 100644
--- a/circus/commands/util.py
+++ b/circus/commands/util.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def validate_option(key, val):
                   'shell', 'env', 'cmd', 'args', 'copy_env', 'retry_in',
                   'max_retry', 'graceful_timeout', 'stdout_stream',
                   'stderr_stream', 'max_age', 'max_age_variance', 'respawn',
-                  'singleton', 'hooks')
+                  'singleton', 'hooks', 'virtualenv', 'virtualenv_py_ver')
 
     valid_prefixes = ('stdout_stream.', 'stderr_stream.', 'hooks.', 'rlimit_')
 
diff --git a/circus/watcher.py b/circus/watcher.py
index 1a76faf0a..12e6975f6 100755
--- a/circus/watcher.py
+++ b/circus/watcher.py
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@ class Watcher(object):
     - **virtualenv** -- The root directory of a virtualenv. If provided, the
       watcher will load the environment for its execution. (default: None)
 
+    - **virtualenv_py_ver** -- Python version that is installed in virtualenv.
+      Use it to change default circus behaviour when it tries to load same version as
+      circus is using.
+
     - **close_child_stdout**: If True, closes the stdout after the fork.
       default: False.