diff --git a/vcbuild.bat b/vcbuild.bat
index 86a986b3dec2f3..179da60d2646a2 100644
--- a/vcbuild.bat
+++ b/vcbuild.bat
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ echo Looking for Visual Studio 2019
 @rem VCINSTALLDIR may be set if run from a VS Command Prompt and needs to be
 @rem cleared first as vswhere_usability_wrapper.cmd doesn't when it fails to
 @rem detect the version searched for
-set "VCINSTALLDIR="
+if not defined target_env set "VCINSTALLDIR="
 call tools\msvs\vswhere_usability_wrapper.cmd "[16.0,17.0)"
 if "_%VCINSTALLDIR%_" == "__" goto msbuild-not-found
 set "WIXSDKDIR=%WIX%\SDK\VS2017"