diff --git a/src/client/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.ts b/src/client/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.ts
index 6ed384381751..510da059ef9a 100644
--- a/src/client/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.ts
+++ b/src/client/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.ts
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ export class PythonExecutionFactory implements IPythonExecutionFactory {
                     );
                 }
             }
+            pythonPath = this.configService.getSettings(options.resource).pythonPath;
         }
-        pythonPath = this.configService.getSettings(options.resource).pythonPath;
         const processService: IProcessService = await this.processServiceFactory.create(options.resource);
         processService.on('exec', this.logger.logProcess.bind(this.logger));
 
diff --git a/src/test/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.unit.test.ts b/src/test/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.unit.test.ts
index bccda1f8c724..852afa046912 100644
--- a/src/test/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.unit.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/common/process/pythonExecutionFactory.unit.test.ts
@@ -188,6 +188,23 @@ suite('Process - PythonExecutionFactory', () => {
                 verify(pythonSettings.pythonPath).once();
             });
 
+            test('If interpreter is explicitly set, ensure we use it', async () => {
+                const pythonSettings = mock(PythonSettings);
+                when(processFactory.create(resource)).thenResolve(processService.object);
+                inDiscoveryExperimentStub.resolves(true);
+                when(activationHelper.getActivatedEnvironmentVariables(resource)).thenResolve({ x: '1' });
+                reset(interpreterPathExpHelper);
+                when(interpreterPathExpHelper.get(anything())).thenReturn('python');
+                when(autoSelection.autoSelectInterpreter(anything())).thenResolve();
+                when(configService.getSettings(resource)).thenReturn(instance(pythonSettings));
+
+                const service = await factory.create({ resource, pythonPath: 'HELLO' });
+
+                expect(service).to.not.equal(undefined);
+                verify(pyenvs.isWindowsStoreInterpreter('HELLO')).once();
+                verify(pythonSettings.pythonPath).never();
+            });
+
             test('If no interpreter is explicitly set, ensure we autoselect before PythonExecutionService is created', async () => {
                 const pythonSettings = mock(PythonSettings);
                 when(processFactory.create(resource)).thenResolve(processService.object);