diff --git a/plugins/pyenv/README.md b/plugins/pyenv/README.md
index f18fc8cfb..95d79cb52 100644
--- a/plugins/pyenv/README.md
+++ b/plugins/pyenv/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 This plugin looks for [pyenv](https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv), a Simple Python version
 management system, and loads it if it's found. It also loads pyenv-virtualenv, a pyenv
-plugin to manage virtualenv, if it's found.
+plugin to manage virtualenv, if it's found. If a venv is found pyenv won't load.
 
 To use it, add `pyenv` to the plugins array in your zshrc file:
 
diff --git a/plugins/pyenv/pyenv.plugin.zsh b/plugins/pyenv/pyenv.plugin.zsh
index 48c8ffaf5..b5c9a7bd3 100644
--- a/plugins/pyenv/pyenv.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/pyenv/pyenv.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# if there is a virtualenv already loaded pyenv should not be loaded
+# see https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/issues/12589
+[[ -n ${VIRTUAL_ENV:-} ]] && return
+
 pyenv_config_warning() {
   [[ "$ZSH_PYENV_QUIET" != true ]] || return 0