diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 831c3b90..ea3a30c1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -39,10 +39,17 @@ $(SPHINX_CONF):
 
 .PHONY: upgrade_venv
 upgrade_venv:
+ifdef VIRTUAL_ENV
+	$(error "Trying to create a venv while being in a venv. Please deactivate from your venv first.")
+endif
 	$(MAKE) -C $(CPYTHON_CLONE)/Doc/ VENVDIR=$(VENV) PYTHON=$(PYTHON) venv
 
 
-$(VENV)/bin/activate: upgrade_venv
+$(VENV)/bin/activate:
+ifdef VIRTUAL_ENV
+	$(error "Trying to create a venv while being in a venv. Please deactivate from your venv first.")
+endif
+	$(MAKE) -C $(CPYTHON_CLONE)/Doc/ VENVDIR=$(VENV) PYTHON=$(PYTHON) venv
 
 
 .PHONY: progress