diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/runtime/PythonContext.java b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/runtime/PythonContext.java
index a771560e41..091abdf49a 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/runtime/PythonContext.java
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/runtime/PythonContext.java
@@ -1907,7 +1907,7 @@ public void initializeHomeAndPrefixPaths(Env newEnv, String languageHome) {
         String pythonHome = newEnv.getOptions().get(PythonOptions.PythonHome);
         if (pythonHome.isEmpty()) {
             try {
-                pythonHome = System.getenv("GRAAL_PYTHONHOME");
+                pythonHome = newEnv.getEnvironment().get("GRAAL_PYTHONHOME");
             } catch (SecurityException e) {
             }
         }