diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions.vim
index be922a1b..e87d4c9d 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions.vim
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ function! airline#extensions#load()
     call airline#extensions#bufferline#init(s:ext)
   endif
 
-  if (get(g:, 'airline#extensions#virtualenv#enabled', 1) && exists(':VirtualEnvList'))
+  if (get(g:, 'airline#extensions#virtualenv#enabled', 1) && (exists(':VirtualEnvList') || isdirectory($VIRTUAL_ENV)))
     call airline#extensions#virtualenv#init(s:ext)
   endif