diff --git a/scripts/lib/setup_venv.py b/scripts/lib/setup_venv.py
index 969132c3f1..4c77366045 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/setup_venv.py
+++ b/scripts/lib/setup_venv.py
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ def do_setup_virtualenv(venv_path: str, requirements_file: str) -> None:
     if not try_to_copy_venv(venv_path, new_packages):
         # Create new virtualenv.
         run_as_root(["mkdir", "-p", venv_path])
-        run_as_root(["virtualenv", "-p", "python3", venv_path])
+        run_as_root(["virtualenv", "-p", "python3", "--no-download", venv_path])
         run_as_root(["chown", "-R", f"{os.getuid()}:{os.getgid()}", venv_path])
         create_log_entry(get_logfile_name(venv_path), "", set(), new_packages)