diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/spawn.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/spawn.py
index 075f3455478..7cc129e2610 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/spawn.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/spawn.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ else:
 if WINSERVICE:
     _python_exe = os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, 'python.exe')
 else:
-    _python_exe = sys._base_executable
+    _python_exe = sys.executable
 
 def set_executable(exe):
     global _python_exe
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2020-01-24-03-15-05.bpo-39439.sFxGfR.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2020-01-24-03-15-05.bpo-39439.sFxGfR.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d677c4c3e02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2020-01-24-03-15-05.bpo-39439.sFxGfR.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Honor the Python path when a virtualenv is active on Windows.
\ No newline at end of file