diff --git a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/postinstallHelper.ts b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/postinstallHelper.ts
index 9a4efc676..88c13e81d 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/postinstallHelper.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/postinstallHelper.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ export async function postInstallEnsureBinary(
       ResolveConfigVariables.DOWNLOAD_DIR,
       resolve(homedir(), '.cache', 'mongodb-binaries')
     );
+  } else {
+    setDefaultValue(ResolveConfigVariables.PREFER_GLOBAL_PATH, 'false');
   }
 
   if (version) {