diff --git a/src/main/starlark/builtins_bzl/common/python/py_executable_bazel.bzl b/src/main/starlark/builtins_bzl/common/python/py_executable_bazel.bzl
index c650ae33dc1553..6969cbdb227d68 100644
--- a/src/main/starlark/builtins_bzl/common/python/py_executable_bazel.bzl
+++ b/src/main/starlark/builtins_bzl/common/python/py_executable_bazel.bzl
@@ -338,6 +338,8 @@ def _create_windows_exe_launcher(
         outputs = [output],
         mnemonic = "PyBuildLauncher",
         progress_message = "Creating launcher for %{label}",
+        # Needed to inherit PATH when using non-MSVC compilers like MinGW
+        use_default_shell_env = True,
     )
 
 def _create_zip_file(ctx, *, output, original_nonzip_executable, executable_for_zip_file, runfiles):