diff --git a/build/configure/src/bundle.rs b/build/configure/src/bundle.rs
index e4226f62c..10a2cf29a 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/bundle.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/bundle.rs
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ impl DistKind {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn build_bundle(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
+pub fn build_bundle(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     // install into venv
-    setup_primary_venv(build, python_binary)?;
+    setup_primary_venv(build)?;
     install_anki_wheels(build)?;
 
     // bundle venv into output binary + extra_files
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ pub fn build_bundle(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()>
     // repeat for Qt5
     if !targetting_macos_arm() {
         if !cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
-            setup_qt5_venv(build, python_binary)?;
+            setup_qt5_venv(build)?;
         }
         build_dist_folder(build, DistKind::Alternate)?;
     }
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ const QT5_VENV: Venv = Venv {
     path_without_builddir: "bundle/pyenv-qt5",
 };
 
-fn setup_primary_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
+fn setup_primary_venv(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     let mut qt6_reqs = inputs![
         "python/requirements.bundle.txt",
         if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
@@ -189,14 +189,13 @@ fn setup_primary_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<(
             folder: PRIMARY_VENV.path_without_builddir,
             base_requirements_txt: "python/requirements.base.txt".into(),
             requirements_txt: qt6_reqs,
-            python_binary,
             extra_binary_exports: &[],
         },
     )?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn setup_qt5_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
+fn setup_qt5_venv(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     let qt5_reqs = inputs![
         "python/requirements.base.txt",
         if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
@@ -211,7 +210,6 @@ fn setup_qt5_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
             folder: QT5_VENV.path_without_builddir,
             base_requirements_txt: "python/requirements.base.txt".into(),
             requirements_txt: qt5_reqs,
-            python_binary,
             extra_binary_exports: &[],
         },
     )
diff --git a/build/configure/src/main.rs b/build/configure/src/main.rs
index 58956169c..5a02bfed2 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/main.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/main.rs
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let mut build = Build::new()?;
     let build = &mut build;
 
-    let python_binary = setup_python(build)?;
-    setup_venv(build, &python_binary)?;
+    setup_python(build)?;
+    setup_venv(build)?;
 
     build_rust(build)?;
     build_pylib(build)?;
     build_and_check_web(build)?;
     build_and_check_aqt(build)?;
-    build_bundle(build, &python_binary)?;
+    build_bundle(build)?;
 
     check_rust(build)?;
     check_pylib(build)?;
diff --git a/build/configure/src/python.rs b/build/configure/src/python.rs
index 6dd329b6c..a4acbfac1 100644
--- a/build/configure/src/python.rs
+++ b/build/configure/src/python.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ fn python_archive(platform: Platform) -> OnlineArchive {
 
 /// Returns the Python binary, which can be used to create venvs.
 /// Downloads if missing.
-pub fn setup_python(build: &mut Build) -> Result<BuildInput> {
+pub fn setup_python(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     // if changing this, make sure you remove out/pyenv
     let python_binary = match env::var("PYTHON_BINARY") {
         Ok(path) => {
@@ -81,10 +81,12 @@ pub fn setup_python(build: &mut Build) -> Result<BuildInput> {
             inputs![":extract:python:bin"]
         }
     };
-    Ok(python_binary)
+    let python_binary = build.expand_inputs(python_binary);
+    build.variable("python_binary", &python_binary[0]);
+    Ok(())
 }
 
-pub fn setup_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
+pub fn setup_venv(build: &mut Build) -> Result<()> {
     let requirements_txt = if cfg!(windows) {
         inputs![
             "python/requirements.dev.txt",
@@ -109,7 +111,6 @@ pub fn setup_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
             folder: "pyenv",
             base_requirements_txt: inputs!["python/requirements.base.txt"],
             requirements_txt,
-            python_binary,
             extra_binary_exports: &[
                 "pip-compile",
                 "pip-sync",
@@ -135,7 +136,6 @@ pub fn setup_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
             folder: "pyenv-qt5.15",
             base_requirements_txt: inputs!["python/requirements.base.txt"],
             requirements_txt: inputs![&reqs_qt5, "python/requirements.qt5_15.txt"],
-            python_binary,
             extra_binary_exports: &[],
         },
     )?;
@@ -145,7 +145,6 @@ pub fn setup_venv(build: &mut Build, python_binary: &BuildInput) -> Result<()> {
             folder: "pyenv-qt5.14",
             base_requirements_txt: inputs!["python/requirements.base.txt"],
             requirements_txt: inputs![reqs_qt5, "python/requirements.qt5_14.txt"],
-            python_binary,
             extra_binary_exports: &[],
         },
     )?;
diff --git a/build/ninja_gen/src/python.rs b/build/ninja_gen/src/python.rs
index 2a367b46b..c999d5112 100644
--- a/build/ninja_gen/src/python.rs
+++ b/build/ninja_gen/src/python.rs
@@ -8,15 +8,14 @@ use crate::inputs;
 use crate::Build;
 use crate::Result;
 
-pub struct PythonEnvironment<'a> {
+pub struct PythonEnvironment {
     pub folder: &'static str,
     pub base_requirements_txt: BuildInput,
     pub requirements_txt: BuildInput,
-    pub python_binary: &'a BuildInput,
     pub extra_binary_exports: &'static [&'static str],
 }
 
-impl BuildAction for PythonEnvironment<'_> {
+impl BuildAction for PythonEnvironment {
     fn command(&self) -> &str {
         "$runner pyenv $python_binary $builddir/$pyenv_folder $system_pkgs $base_requirements $requirements"
     }
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ impl BuildAction for PythonEnvironment<'_> {
             vec![path]
         };
 
-        build.add_inputs("python_binary", self.python_binary);
+        build.add_inputs("python_binary", inputs!["$python_binary"]);
         build.add_inputs("base_requirements", &self.base_requirements_txt);
         build.add_inputs("requirements", &self.requirements_txt);
         build.add_variable("pyenv_folder", self.folder);