diff --git a/Python/initconfig.c b/Python/initconfig.c
index a0b2691..a930b5d 100644
--- a/Python/initconfig.c
+++ b/Python/initconfig.c
@@ -1144,6 +1144,17 @@
             if (_PyStatus_EXCEPTION(status)) {
                 return status;
             }
+
+            /*
+             * This environment variable is used to communicate between
+             * the stub launcher and the real interpreter and isn't needed
+             * beyond this point.
+             *
+             * Clean up to avoid problems when launching other programs
+             * later on.
+             */
+            (void)unsetenv("__PYVENV_LAUNCHER__");
+
             return _PyStatus_OK();
         }
     }