diff --git a/src/PackageCompiler.jl b/src/PackageCompiler.jl
index 1467fe1d..855ec534 100644
--- a/src/PackageCompiler.jl
+++ b/src/PackageCompiler.jl
@@ -299,9 +299,8 @@ function ensurecompiled(project, packages, sysimage)
     # TODO: Only precompile `packages` (should be available in Pkg 1.8)
     cmd = `$(get_julia_cmd()) --sysimage=$sysimage -e 'using Pkg; Pkg.precompile()'`
     splitter = Sys.iswindows() ? ';' : ':'
-    JULIA_LOAD_PATH = "$project$(splitter)@stdlib"
-    @debug "ensurecompiled: running $cmd" JULIA_LOAD_PATH
-    cmd = setenv(cmd, "JULIA_LOAD_PATH" => JULIA_LOAD_PATH, "JULIA_PROJECT" => project)
+    @debug "ensurecompiled: running $cmd" JULIA_LOAD_PATH = "$project$(splitter)@stdlib"
+    cmd = addenv(cmd, "JULIA_LOAD_PATH" => "$project$(splitter)@stdlib")
     run(cmd)
     return
 end