Fix Windows activation scripts to handle Python paths with spaces#3015
Merged
Conversation
gaborbernat
approved these changes
Jan 10, 2026
This was referenced Mar 12, 2026
This file contains hidden or bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
Sign up for free
to join this conversation on GitHub.
Already have an account?
Sign in to comment
Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.This suggestion is invalid because no changes were made to the code.Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is closed.Suggestions cannot be applied while viewing a subset of changes.Only one suggestion per line can be applied in a batch.Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.Applying suggestions on deleted lines is not supported.You must change the existing code in this line in order to create a valid suggestion.Outdated suggestions cannot be applied.This suggestion has been applied or marked resolved.Suggestions cannot be applied from pending reviews.Suggestions cannot be applied on multi-line comments.Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is queued to merge.Suggestion cannot be applied right now. Please check back later.
When Python is installed in a path containing spaces (e.g., C:\Program Files\Python39) on Windows, and a file named C:\Program exists on the filesystem, virtualenv's pydoc command fails with the error:
Unable to create process using 'c:\program files\python39\python.exe'
This happens because Windows command interpreter splits unquoted paths at spaces, interpreting C:\Program Files\Python39\python.exe as two separate arguments:
C:\Program (which exists as a file)
Files\Python39\python.exe
When Windows tries to execute C:\Program as if it were an executable, the command fails.
The issue stems from unquoted Python executable paths in activation scripts.
Solution:
Quotes ensure Windows treats the entire path as a single argument, even with spaces, and the call operator in PowerShell properly handles commands with spaces in their paths.
Fixes: #2985
tox -e fix)docs/changelogfolder