diff --git a/plug-ins/python/meson.build b/plug-ins/python/meson.build
index 748f5f7a35..34ec0ae42a 100644
--- a/plug-ins/python/meson.build
+++ b/plug-ins/python/meson.build
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ endforeach
 # Fallback fix to the problem of non-configured interpreters (needed by MSIX)
 if platform_windows and not meson.is_cross_build() and python.found()
   python_config = configuration_data()
-  if not stable
+  if gimp_unstable or not release
     #python.exe is prefered in unstable versions because of error output
     python_config.set('PYTHON_EXE', 'python.exe')
   else