diff --git a/tools/_release.sh b/tools/_release.sh
index 208c42a6f..95f722f00 100755
--- a/tools/_release.sh
+++ b/tools/_release.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,18 @@ echo Releasing production version "$version"...
 nextversion="$2"
 RELEASE_BRANCH="candidate-$version"
 
+if [ -n "$VIRTUAL_ENV" ]; then
+    if [[ "$PATH" != $VIRTUAL_ENV* ]]; then
+        echo "Unexpected PATH and VIRTUAL_ENV value. Please deactivate any"
+        echo "Python virtual environments and try running this script again."
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    echo "Deactivating venv..."
+    export PATH="${PATH#*:}"
+    hash -r 2> /dev/null
+    unset VIRTUAL_ENV
+fi
+
 if [ "$(git branch --show-current)" != "$RELEASE_BRANCH" ]; then
     echo "Creating $RELEASE_BRANCH branch..."
     git switch -c "$RELEASE_BRANCH"