@@ -96,6 +96,27 @@ internal static int GetRun()
             return runNumber;
         }
 
+        static void EnsureProgramName()
+        {
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(PythonEngine.ProgramName))
+                return;
+
+            string fromEnv = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PYTHONNET_PYEXE");
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(fromEnv))
+            {
+                PythonEngine.ProgramName = fromEnv;
+                return;
+            }
+
+            string venv = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("VIRTUAL_ENV");
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(venv))
+            {
+                string exeName = IsWindows ? "python.exe" : "python";
+                string fullPath = System.IO.Path.Combine(venv, "bin", exeName);
+                PythonEngine.ProgramName = fullPath;
+            }
+        }
+
         internal static bool HostedInPython;
         internal static bool ProcessIsTerminating;
 
@@ -117,6 +138,8 @@ internal static void Initialize(bool initSigs = false)
             );
             if (!interpreterAlreadyInitialized)
             {
+                EnsureProgramName();
+
                 Py_InitializeEx(initSigs ? 1 : 0);
 
                 NewRun();