diff --git a/.config/direnv/direnvrc b/.config/direnv/direnvrc
index 135e5a1..9d569ff 100644
--- a/.config/direnv/direnvrc
+++ b/.config/direnv/direnvrc
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 layout_uv() {
-    if [[ -d ".venv" ]]; then
+    if [[ -z "$VIRTUAL_ENV" && -d ".venv" ]]; then
+        # No explicit VIRTUAL_ENV was exported, and a .venv dir exists, use that
         VIRTUAL_ENV="$(pwd)/.venv"
     fi