diff --git a/gef.py b/gef.py
index 94cd9e2cf..0abc0b484 100644
--- a/gef.py
+++ b/gef.py
@@ -9949,8 +9949,8 @@ def load_plugins_from_directory(plugin_directory: pathlib.Path):
 
     def load_virtualenv(self, new_path: Optional[pathlib.Path] = None):
         path = new_path or gef.config["gef.virtualenv_path"]
-        activate_script_path = pathlib.Path(path) / "bin" / "activate_this.py"
         if path:
+            activate_script_path = pathlib.Path(path)/"bin"/"activate_this.py"
             exec(open(activate_script_path).read(), {'__file__': activate_script_path})
 
     @property