diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9f526dcb0..b4ad72aaf 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 .*.swp
-*.pyc
\ No newline at end of file
+*.pyc
+inkstitch-venv
diff --git a/embroider.py b/embroider.py
index d5a963dee..8f76391f1 100644
--- a/embroider.py
+++ b/embroider.py
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@
 # Embroidery file format documentation:
 # http://www.achatina.de/sewing/main/TECHNICL.HTM
 
+execfile('inkstitch_activate_venv.py')
+
 import sys
 import traceback
 sys.path.append("/usr/share/inkscape/extensions")
-import os
 import subprocess
 from copy import deepcopy
 import time
diff --git a/embroider_params.py b/embroider_params.py
index 0c5c52fc6..ce0ec6a96 100644
--- a/embroider_params.py
+++ b/embroider_params.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: UTF-8 -*-
 
+execfile('inkstitch_activate_venv.py')
+
 import os
 import sys
 import json
diff --git a/embroider_simulate.py b/embroider_simulate.py
index f10f39f0a..c1944d40b 100644
--- a/embroider_simulate.py
+++ b/embroider_simulate.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+execfile('inkstitch_activate_venv.py')
+
 import sys
 import os
 import numpy
diff --git a/embroider_update.py b/embroider_update.py
index b6821d548..593744547 100644
--- a/embroider_update.py
+++ b/embroider_update.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 # Update embroidery parameters stored in XML attributes from old to new
 # format.
 
+execfile('inkstitch_activate_venv.py')
+
 import sys
 sys.path.append("/usr/share/inkscape/extensions")
 import os
diff --git a/inkstitch_activate_venv.py b/inkstitch_activate_venv.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..84f2d7b37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inkstitch_activate_venv.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import os
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    if os.path.isdir("inkstitch-venv"):
+        activate = os.path.join("inkstitch-venv", "bin", "activate_this.py")
+        execfile(activate, dict(__file__=activate))