diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py
index 4484620d1f5..d9563993a93 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 import spack.builder
 import spack.config
+import spack.context
 import spack.deptypes as dt
 import spack.detection
 import spack.multimethod
@@ -237,7 +238,12 @@ def test_imports(self) -> None:
                 purpose=f"checking import of {module}",
                 work_dir="spack-test",
             ):
-                python("-c", f"import {module}")
+                setup_context = spack.build_environment.SetupContext(
+                    self.spec, context=spack.context.Context.RUN
+                )
+                mods = setup_context.get_env_modifications()
+                with mods.set_env():
+                    python("-c", f"import {module}")
 
     def update_external_dependencies(self, extendee_spec=None):
         """