diff --git a/R/config.R b/R/config.R
index d7061f552..0f1b31ec7 100644
--- a/R/config.R
+++ b/R/config.R
@@ -444,6 +444,9 @@ create_default_virtualenv <- function(package = "reticulate", ...) {
   if (virtualenv_exists(envname))
     return(virtualenv_python(envname))
 
+  if (!isTRUE(getOption("reticulate.python.initializing")))
+    return(NULL)
+
   permission <- tolower(Sys.getenv("RETICULATE_AUTOCREATE_PACKAGE_VENV", ""))
 
   if (permission %in% c("false", "0", "no"))
diff --git a/R/zzz.R b/R/zzz.R
index be99a5a5d..e83ae81ec 100644
--- a/R/zzz.R
+++ b/R/zzz.R
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
       return(main)
 
     # attempt to initialize main
-    main <<- import_main(convert = TRUE)
+    if (is_python_initialized())
+      main <<- import_main(convert = TRUE)
 
     # return value of main
     main