diff --git a/metaflow/plugins/env_escape/__init__.py b/metaflow/plugins/env_escape/__init__.py
index cf54ccd00c6..a2c6b4ef163 100644
--- a/metaflow/plugins/env_escape/__init__.py
+++ b/metaflow/plugins/env_escape/__init__.py
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ def load():
                 print("Not using environment escape for '%s' as module present" % prefix)
             # In both cases, we don't load our loader since
             # the package is locally present
+            sys.path = old_paths
             return
     sys.path = old_paths
     m = ModuleImporter("{python_executable}", "{pythonpath}", {max_pickle_version}, "{path}", {prefixes})