diff --git a/.mise.toml b/.mise.toml
index 68962cff4c..2a35be4347 100644
--- a/.mise.toml
+++ b/.mise.toml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ min_version = "2024.1.1"
 [env]
 _.file = [".env"]
 _.path = ["./target/debug"]
+_.python.venv = "{{env.HOME}}/.cache/venv"
 FOO = "bar"
 FOO_NUM = 1
 THIS_PROJECT = "{{config_root}}-{{cwd}}"
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ THIS_PROJECT = "{{config_root}}-{{cwd}}"
 "cargo:eza" = "0.17.0"
 tiny = { version = "1", foo = "bar" }
 golang = { version = "prefix:1.21", foo = "bar" }
-python = { version = "latest", virtualenv = "{{env.HOME}}/.cache/venv" }
+python = "latest"
 ruby = "3.1"
 
 [plugins]
diff --git a/e2e/test_python b/e2e/test_python
index d108f3be81..211a6e165b 100755
--- a/e2e/test_python
+++ b/e2e/test_python
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@ export MISE_EXPERIMENTAL=1
 export MISE_PYTHON_DEFAULT_PACKAGES_FILE="$ROOT/e2e/.default-python-packages"
 
 cat >.e2e.mise.toml <<EOF
+[env._.python]
+venv = {path = "{{env.MISE_DATA_DIR}}/venv", create=true}
 [tools]
-python = {version = "{{exec(command='echo 3.12.0')}}", virtualenv="{{env.MISE_DATA_DIR}}/venv"}
+python = "{{exec(command='echo 3.12.0')}}"
 EOF
 
 mise i
-mise x -- python -m venv "$MISE_DATA_DIR/venv"
+#mise x -- python -m venv "$MISE_DATA_DIR/venv"
 assert_contains "mise x python@3.12.0 -- python --version" "Python 3.12.0"
 assert_contains "mise env -s bash | grep VIRTUAL_ENV" "$MISE_DATA_DIR/venv"
 assert "mise x -- which python" "$MISE_DATA_DIR/venv/bin/python"
diff --git a/schema/mise.json b/schema/mise.json
index cf0d7dc096..109a1b50ae 100644
--- a/schema/mise.json
+++ b/schema/mise.json
@@ -104,6 +104,33 @@
                   }
                 }
               ]
+            },
+            "python": {
+              "type": "object",
+              "description": "python environment",
+              "properties": {
+                "venv": {
+                  "oneOf": [
+                    {"description": "path to python virtual environment to use", "type": "string"},
+                    {
+                      "description": "virtualenv options",
+                      "type": "object",
+                      "required": ["path"],
+                      "properties": {
+                        "path": {
+                          "description": "path to python virtual environment to use",
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        "create": {
+                          "description": "create a new virtual environment if one does not exist",
+                          "type": "boolean",
+                          "default": false
+                        }
+                      }
+                    }
+                  ]
+                }
+              }
             }
           }
         }
diff --git a/src/cli/settings/ls.rs b/src/cli/settings/ls.rs
index d37b646dd3..4072826834 100644
--- a/src/cli/settings/ls.rs
+++ b/src/cli/settings/ls.rs
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ mod tests {
         python_compile = false
         python_default_packages_file = "~/.default-python-packages"
         python_pyenv_repo = "https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv.git"
-        python_venv_auto_create = false
         quiet = false
         raw = false
         trusted_config_paths = []
@@ -129,7 +128,6 @@ mod tests {
         python_compile
         python_default_packages_file
         python_pyenv_repo
-        python_venv_auto_create
         quiet
         raw
         status
diff --git a/src/cli/settings/set.rs b/src/cli/settings/set.rs
index b6a22d5648..dcbe704d7e 100644
--- a/src/cli/settings/set.rs
+++ b/src/cli/settings/set.rs
@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ pub mod tests {
         python_compile = false
         python_default_packages_file = "~/.default-python-packages"
         python_pyenv_repo = "https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv.git"
-        python_venv_auto_create = false
         quiet = false
         raw = false
         trusted_config_paths = []
diff --git a/src/cli/settings/unset.rs b/src/cli/settings/unset.rs
index 116d916a2b..574b52b865 100644
--- a/src/cli/settings/unset.rs
+++ b/src/cli/settings/unset.rs
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ mod tests {
         python_compile = false
         python_default_packages_file = "~/.default-python-packages"
         python_pyenv_repo = "https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv.git"
-        python_venv_auto_create = false
         quiet = false
         raw = false
         trusted_config_paths = []
diff --git a/src/config/config_file/mise_toml.rs b/src/config/config_file/mise_toml.rs
index 00df9044a1..ecfbe91b1d 100644
--- a/src/config/config_file/mise_toml.rs
+++ b/src/config/config_file/mise_toml.rs
@@ -380,8 +380,8 @@ impl Clone for MiseToml {
 }
 
 fn deserialize_version<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Option<Versioning>, D::Error>
-where
-    D: Deserializer<'de>,
+    where
+        D: Deserializer<'de>,
 {
     let s: Option<String> = serde::Deserialize::deserialize(deserializer)?;
 
@@ -397,8 +397,8 @@ where
 
 impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
     fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
-    where
-        D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
+        where
+            D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
     {
         struct EnvManVisitor;
 
@@ -409,8 +409,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
             }
 
             fn visit_seq<S>(self, mut seq: S) -> std::result::Result<Self::Value, S::Error>
-            where
-                S: de::SeqAccess<'de>,
+                where
+                    S: de::SeqAccess<'de>,
             {
                 let mut env = vec![];
                 while let Some(list) = seq.next_element::<EnvList>()? {
@@ -419,13 +419,25 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
                 Ok(EnvList(env))
             }
             fn visit_map<M>(self, mut map: M) -> std::result::Result<Self::Value, M::Error>
-            where
-                M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
+                where
+                    M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
             {
                 let mut env = vec![];
                 while let Some(key) = map.next_key::<String>()? {
                     match key.as_str() {
                         "_" | "mise" => {
+                            struct EnvDirectivePythonVenv {
+                                path: PathBuf,
+                                create: bool,
+                            }
+
+                            #[derive(Deserialize, Default)]
+                            #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+                            struct EnvDirectivePython {
+                                #[serde(default)]
+                                venv: Option<EnvDirectivePythonVenv>,
+                            }
+
                             #[derive(Deserialize)]
                             #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
                             struct EnvDirectives {
@@ -435,7 +447,62 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
                                 file: Vec<PathBuf>,
                                 #[serde(default, deserialize_with = "deserialize_arr")]
                                 source: Vec<PathBuf>,
+                                #[serde(default)]
+                                python: EnvDirectivePython,
+                            }
+
+                            impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvDirectivePythonVenv {
+                                fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+                                    where
+                                        D: Deserializer<'de>,
+                                {
+                                    struct EnvDirectivePythonVenvVisitor;
+
+                                    impl<'de> Visitor<'de> for EnvDirectivePythonVenvVisitor {
+                                        type Value = EnvDirectivePythonVenv;
+                                        fn expecting(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter) -> std::fmt::Result {
+                                            formatter.write_str("python venv directive")
+                                        }
+
+                                        fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
+                                            where
+                                                E: de::Error,
+                                        {
+                                            Ok(EnvDirectivePythonVenv {
+                                                path: v.into(),
+                                                create: false,
+                                            })
+                                        }
+
+                                        fn visit_map<M>(self, mut map: M) -> Result<Self::Value, M::Error>
+                                            where
+                                                M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
+                                        {
+                                            let mut path = None;
+                                            let mut create = false;
+                                            while let Some(key) = map.next_key::<String>()? {
+                                                match key.as_str() {
+                                                    "path" => {
+                                                        path = Some(map.next_value()?);
+                                                    }
+                                                    "create" => {
+                                                        create = map.next_value()?;
+                                                    }
+                                                    _ => {
+                                                        return Err(de::Error::unknown_field(&key, &["path", "create"]));
+                                                    }
+                                                }
+                                            }
+                                            let path = path.ok_or_else(|| de::Error::missing_field("path"))?;
+                                            Ok(EnvDirectivePythonVenv { path, create })
+                                        }
+                                    }
+
+                                    const FIELDS: &[&str] = &["path", "create"];
+                                    deserializer.deserialize_struct("PythonVenv", FIELDS, EnvDirectivePythonVenvVisitor)
+                                }
                             }
+
                             let directives = map.next_value::<EnvDirectives>()?;
                             // TODO: parse these in the order they're defined somehow
                             for path in directives.path {
@@ -447,6 +514,12 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
                             for source in directives.source {
                                 env.push(EnvDirective::Source(source));
                             }
+                            if let Some(venv) = directives.python.venv {
+                                env.push(EnvDirective::PythonVenv {
+                                    path: venv.path,
+                                    create: venv.create,
+                                });
+                            }
                         }
                         _ => {
                             enum Val {
@@ -459,8 +532,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
                                 fn deserialize<D>(
                                     deserializer: D,
                                 ) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
-                                where
-                                    D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
+                                    where
+                                        D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
                                 {
                                     struct ValVisitor;
 
@@ -475,8 +548,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
                                         }
 
                                         fn visit_bool<E>(self, v: bool) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
-                                        where
-                                            E: de::Error,
+                                            where
+                                                E: de::Error,
                                         {
                                             match v {
                                                 true => Err(de::Error::custom(
@@ -487,15 +560,15 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
                                         }
 
                                         fn visit_i64<E>(self, v: i64) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
-                                        where
-                                            E: de::Error,
+                                            where
+                                                E: de::Error,
                                         {
                                             Ok(Val::Int(v))
                                         }
 
                                         fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
-                                        where
-                                            E: de::Error,
+                                            where
+                                                E: de::Error,
                                         {
                                             Ok(Val::Str(v.to_string()))
                                         }
@@ -528,8 +601,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for EnvList {
 
 impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlToolList {
     fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
-    where
-        D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
+        where
+            D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
     {
         struct MiseTomlToolListVisitor;
 
@@ -540,8 +613,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlToolList {
             }
 
             fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
-            where
-                E: de::Error,
+                where
+                    E: de::Error,
             {
                 let tt: ToolVersionType = v
                     .parse()
@@ -553,8 +626,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlToolList {
             }
 
             fn visit_map<M>(self, map: M) -> std::result::Result<Self::Value, M::Error>
-            where
-                M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
+                where
+                    M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
             {
                 let mut options: BTreeMap<String, String> =
                     de::Deserialize::deserialize(de::value::MapAccessDeserializer::new(map))?;
@@ -570,8 +643,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlToolList {
             }
 
             fn visit_seq<S>(self, mut seq: S) -> std::result::Result<Self::Value, S::Error>
-            where
-                S: de::SeqAccess<'de>,
+                where
+                    S: de::SeqAccess<'de>,
             {
                 let mut tools = vec![];
                 while let Some(tool) = seq.next_element::<MiseTomlTool>()? {
@@ -587,8 +660,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlToolList {
 
 impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlTool {
     fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
-    where
-        D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
+        where
+            D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
     {
         struct MiseTomlToolVisitor;
 
@@ -599,8 +672,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlTool {
             }
 
             fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
-            where
-                E: de::Error,
+                where
+                    E: de::Error,
             {
                 let tt: ToolVersionType = v
                     .parse()
@@ -612,8 +685,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlTool {
             }
 
             fn visit_map<M>(self, map: M) -> Result<Self::Value, M::Error>
-            where
-                M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
+                where
+                    M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
             {
                 let mut options: BTreeMap<String, String> =
                     de::Deserialize::deserialize(de::value::MapAccessDeserializer::new(map))?;
@@ -635,8 +708,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for MiseTomlTool {
 
 impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for Tasks {
     fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
-    where
-        D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
+        where
+            D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
     {
         struct TasksVisitor;
 
@@ -647,14 +720,14 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for Tasks {
             }
 
             fn visit_map<M>(self, mut map: M) -> std::result::Result<Self::Value, M::Error>
-            where
-                M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
+                where
+                    M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
             {
                 struct TaskDef(Task);
                 impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for TaskDef {
                     fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<TaskDef, D::Error>
-                    where
-                        D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
+                        where
+                            D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
                     {
                         struct TaskDefVisitor;
                         impl<'de> Visitor<'de> for TaskDefVisitor {
@@ -664,8 +737,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for Tasks {
                             }
 
                             fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
-                            where
-                                E: de::Error,
+                                where
+                                    E: de::Error,
                             {
                                 Ok(TaskDef(Task {
                                     run: vec![v.to_string()],
@@ -674,8 +747,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for Tasks {
                             }
 
                             fn visit_seq<S>(self, mut seq: S) -> Result<Self::Value, S::Error>
-                            where
-                                S: de::SeqAccess<'de>,
+                                where
+                                    S: de::SeqAccess<'de>,
                             {
                                 let mut run = vec![];
                                 while let Some(s) = seq.next_element::<String>()? {
@@ -688,8 +761,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for Tasks {
                             }
 
                             fn visit_map<M>(self, map: M) -> Result<Self::Value, M::Error>
-                            where
-                                M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
+                                where
+                                    M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
                             {
                                 let t = de::Deserialize::deserialize(
                                     de::value::MapAccessDeserializer::new(map),
@@ -716,8 +789,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for Tasks {
 
 impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for ForgeArg {
     fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
-    where
-        D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
+        where
+            D: de::Deserializer<'de>,
     {
         struct ForgeArgVisitor;
 
@@ -728,8 +801,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for ForgeArg {
             }
 
             fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
-            where
-                E: de::Error,
+                where
+                    E: de::Error,
             {
                 v.parse().map_err(de::Error::custom)
             }
@@ -740,8 +813,8 @@ impl<'de> de::Deserialize<'de> for ForgeArg {
 }
 
 fn deserialize_alias<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<AliasMap, D::Error>
-where
-    D: Deserializer<'de>,
+    where
+        D: Deserializer<'de>,
 {
     struct AliasMapVisitor;
 
@@ -752,8 +825,8 @@ where
         }
 
         fn visit_map<M>(self, mut map: M) -> std::result::Result<Self::Value, M::Error>
-        where
-            M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
+            where
+                M: de::MapAccess<'de>,
         {
             let mut aliases = AliasMap::new();
             while let Some(plugin) = map.next_key::<String>()? {
@@ -802,7 +875,7 @@ mod tests {
         foo="bar"
         "#},
         )
-        .unwrap();
+            .unwrap();
         let cf = MiseToml::from_file(&p).unwrap();
         let env = parse_env(file::read_to_string(&p).unwrap());
 
@@ -931,7 +1004,7 @@ mod tests {
             18 = "18.0.0"
         "#},
         )
-        .unwrap();
+            .unwrap();
         let mut cf = MiseToml::from_file(&p).unwrap();
         let node = "node".parse().unwrap();
         let python = "python".parse().unwrap();
@@ -959,7 +1032,7 @@ mod tests {
             "3.10" = "3.10.0"
             "#},
         )
-        .unwrap();
+            .unwrap();
         let mut cf = MiseToml::from_file(&p).unwrap();
         let node = "node".parse().unwrap();
         let python = "python".parse().unwrap();
@@ -984,7 +1057,7 @@ mod tests {
             node = ["16.0.0", "18.0.0"]
             "#},
         )
-        .unwrap();
+            .unwrap();
         let mut cf = MiseToml::from_file(&p).unwrap();
         let node = "node".parse().unwrap();
         cf.replace_versions(&node, &["16.0.1".into(), "18.0.1".into()])
@@ -1007,7 +1080,7 @@ mod tests {
             node = ["16.0.0", "18.0.0"]
             "#},
         )
-        .unwrap();
+            .unwrap();
         let mut cf = MiseToml::from_file(&p).unwrap();
         cf.remove_plugin(&"node".parse().unwrap()).unwrap();
 
@@ -1023,7 +1096,7 @@ mod tests {
         let _ = toml::from_str::<MiseToml>(&formatdoc! {r#"
         invalid_key = true
         "#})
-        .unwrap_err();
+            .unwrap_err();
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/config/env_directive.rs b/src/config/env_directive.rs
index 98aa70dc8d..acbaf2573e 100644
--- a/src/config/env_directive.rs
+++ b/src/config/env_directive.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,19 @@
-use crate::config::config_file::trust_check;
-use crate::config::Settings;
-use crate::env_diff::{EnvDiff, EnvDiffOperation};
-use crate::file::display_path;
-use crate::tera::{get_tera, BASE_CONTEXT};
-use crate::{dirs, env};
-use eyre::Context;
-use indexmap::IndexMap;
 use std::collections::{BTreeSet, HashMap};
 use std::fmt::Display;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
+use eyre::Context;
+use indexmap::IndexMap;
+
+use crate::{dirs, env};
+use crate::cmd::CmdLineRunner;
+use crate::config::{Config, Settings};
+use crate::config::config_file::trust_check;
+use crate::env_diff::{EnvDiff, EnvDiffOperation};
+use crate::file::display_path;
+use crate::tera::{BASE_CONTEXT, get_tera};
+use crate::toolset::ToolsetBuilder;
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum EnvDirective {
     /// simple key/value pair
@@ -22,6 +26,10 @@ pub enum EnvDirective {
     Path(PathBuf),
     /// run a bash script and apply the resulting env diff
     Source(PathBuf),
+    PythonVenv {
+        path: PathBuf,
+        create: bool,
+    },
 }
 
 impl From<(String, String)> for EnvDirective {
@@ -44,6 +52,13 @@ impl Display for EnvDirective {
             EnvDirective::File(path) => write!(f, "dotenv {}", display_path(path)),
             EnvDirective::Path(path) => write!(f, "path_add {}", display_path(path)),
             EnvDirective::Source(path) => write!(f, "source {}", display_path(path)),
+            EnvDirective::PythonVenv { path, create } => {
+                write!(f, "python venv path={}", display_path(path))?;
+                if *create {
+                    write!(f, " create")?;
+                }
+                Ok(())
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -143,6 +158,41 @@ impl EnvResults {
                         }
                     }
                 }
+                EnvDirective::PythonVenv { path, create } => {
+                    trace!("python venv: {} create={create}", display_path(&path));
+                    trust_check(&source)?;
+                    let venv =
+                        r.parse_template(&ctx, &source, path.to_string_lossy().as_ref())?;
+                    let venv = normalize_path(venv.into());
+                    if !venv.exists() {
+                        if create {
+                            info!("creating venv at: {}", display_path(&venv));
+                            // TODO: the toolset stuff doesn't feel like it's in the right place here
+                            let config = Config::get();
+                            let ts = ToolsetBuilder::new().build(&config)?;
+                            let path = ts.list_paths().into_iter().chain(env::split_paths(&env_vars["PATH"]))
+                                .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+                            CmdLineRunner::new("python3")
+                                .args(["-m", "venv", &venv.to_string_lossy()])
+                                .envs(&env_vars)
+                                .env("PATH", env::join_paths(&path)?.to_string_lossy().to_string()).execute()?;
+                        } else {
+                            warn!(
+                                "no venv found at: {p}\n\n\
+                                To create a virtualenv manually, run:\n\
+                                python -m venv {p}",
+                                p = display_path(&venv)
+                            );
+                        }
+                    }
+                    if venv.exists() {
+                        r.env_paths.push(venv.join("bin"));
+                        env.insert(
+                            "VIRTUAL_ENV".into(),
+                            (venv.to_string_lossy().to_string(), Some(source.clone())),
+                        );
+                    }
+                }
             };
         }
         for (k, (v, source)) in env {
@@ -173,9 +223,10 @@ impl EnvResults {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::*;
     use crate::test::replace_path;
 
+    use super::*;
+
     #[test]
     fn test_env_path() {
         let mut env = HashMap::new();
@@ -202,7 +253,7 @@ mod tests {
                 ),
             ],
         )
-        .unwrap();
+            .unwrap();
         assert_debug_snapshot!(
             results.env_paths.into_iter().map(|p| replace_path(&p.display().to_string())).collect::<Vec<_>>(),
             @r###"
diff --git a/src/config/settings.rs b/src/config/settings.rs
index 791ef98cda..f9309812cb 100644
--- a/src/config/settings.rs
+++ b/src/config/settings.rs
@@ -102,8 +102,6 @@ pub struct Settings {
     pub python_precompiled_os: Option<String>,
     #[config(env = "MISE_PYENV_REPO", default = "https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv.git")]
     pub python_pyenv_repo: String,
-    #[config(env = "MISE_PYTHON_VENV_AUTO_CREATE", default = false)]
-    pub python_venv_auto_create: bool,
     #[config(env = "MISE_RAW", default = false)]
     pub raw: bool,
     #[config(env = "MISE_SHORTHANDS_FILE")]
@@ -135,6 +133,8 @@ pub struct Settings {
     pub trace: bool,
     #[config(env = "MISE_LOG_LEVEL", default = "info")]
     pub log_level: String,
+    #[config(env = "MISE_PYTHON_VENV_AUTO_CREATE", default = false)]
+    pub python_venv_auto_create: bool,
 }
 
 #[derive(Config, Default, Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
@@ -143,8 +143,8 @@ pub struct Settings {
 pub struct SettingsStatus {
     /// warn if a tool is missing
     #[config(
-        env = "MISE_STATUS_MESSAGE_MISSING_TOOLS",
-        default = "if_other_versions_installed"
+    env = "MISE_STATUS_MESSAGE_MISSING_TOOLS",
+    default = "if_other_versions_installed"
     )]
     pub missing_tools: SettingsStatusMissingTools,
     /// show env var keys when entering directories
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ impl Settings {
 
     pub fn hidden_configs() -> &'static HashSet<&'static str> {
         static HIDDEN_CONFIGS: Lazy<HashSet<&'static str>> =
-            Lazy::new(|| ["ci", "cd", "debug", "env_file", "trace", "log_level"].into());
+            Lazy::new(|| ["ci", "cd", "debug", "env_file", "trace", "log_level", "python_venv_auto_create"].into());
         &HIDDEN_CONFIGS
     }
 
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ impl Settings {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub fn trusted_config_paths(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = PathBuf> + '_ {
+    pub fn trusted_config_paths(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item=PathBuf> + '_ {
         self.trusted_config_paths.iter().map(file::replace_path)
     }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/core/python.rs b/src/plugins/core/python.rs
index 7bdc2e52c8..2f623a7ded 100644
--- a/src/plugins/core/python.rs
+++ b/src/plugins/core/python.rs
@@ -249,8 +249,6 @@ impl PythonPlugin {
                 } else {
                     warn!(
                         "no venv found at: {p}\n\n\
-                        To have mise automatically create virtualenvs, run:\n\
-                        mise settings set python_venv_auto_create true\n\n\
                         To create a virtualenv manually, run:\n\
                         python -m venv {p}",
                         p = display_path(&virtualenv)
diff --git a/tests/cli/install.rs b/tests/cli/install.rs
index 0e59397abd..8f7d0f53c1 100644
--- a/tests/cli/install.rs
+++ b/tests/cli/install.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ use predicates::prelude::*;
 use test_case::test_case;
 
 // From e2e/test_bun, e2e/tes_deno, e2e/test_java
-#[test_case("bun", ".bun-version", "1.0.17", &["bun", "-v"], "1.0.17", false)]
-#[test_case("deno", ".deno-version", "1.35.3", &["deno", "-V"], "1.35.3", false)]
-#[test_case("java", ".sdkmanrc", "java=17.0.2", &["java", "-version"], "openjdk version \"17.0.2\"", true)]
-#[test_case("java", ".java-version", "17.0.2", &["java", "-version"], "openjdk version \"17.0.2\"", true)]
+#[test_case("bun", ".bun-version", "1.0.17", & ["bun", "-v"], "1.0.17", false)]
+#[test_case("deno", ".deno-version", "1.35.3", & ["deno", "-V"], "1.35.3", false)]
+#[test_case("java", ".sdkmanrc", "java=17.0.2", & ["java", "-version"], "openjdk version \"17.0.2\"", true)]
+#[test_case("java", ".java-version", "17.0.2", & ["java", "-version"], "openjdk version \"17.0.2\"", true)]
 fn test_tool_specific_version_files(
     tool: &str,
     file_name: &str,
@@ -196,12 +196,12 @@ fn test_python() -> Result<()> {
 fn python_config_fixture() -> File {
     File {
         path: ".mise.toml".into(),
-        content: toml::toml!{
-            [settings]
-            python_venv_auto_create = true
+        content: toml::toml! {
+            [env._.python]
+            venv = {path="{{env.MISE_DATA_DIR}}/venv", create=true}
 
             [tools]
-            python = {version = "{{exec(command='echo 3.12.0')}}", virtualenv="{{env.MISE_DATA_DIR}}/venv"}
+            python = "{{exec(command='echo 3.12.0')}}"
         }.to_string(),
     }
 }