diff --git a/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/ProjectSpecificSettingsStep.java b/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/ProjectSpecificSettingsStep.java
index 5e748cbcee96..8031237595f9 100644
--- a/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/ProjectSpecificSettingsStep.java
+++ b/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/ProjectSpecificSettingsStep.java
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ public class ProjectSpecificSettingsStep<T> extends ProjectSettingsStepBase<T> i
 
       locationPanel.add(location, BorderLayout.CENTER);
       panel.add(locationPanel);
-      panel.add(createInterpretersPanel());
+      panel.add(createInterpretersPanel(((PythonProjectGenerator)myProjectGenerator).getPreferredEnvironmentType()));
 
       final JPanel basePanelExtension = ((PythonProjectGenerator)myProjectGenerator).extendBasePanel();
       if (basePanelExtension != null) {
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ public class ProjectSpecificSettingsStep<T> extends ProjectSettingsStepBase<T> i
   }
 
   @NotNull
-  private JPanel createInterpretersPanel() {
+  private JPanel createInterpretersPanel(@Nullable final String preferredEnvironment) {
     final JPanel container = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
     final JPanel decoratorPanel = new JPanel(new VerticalFlowLayout());
 
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ public class ProjectSpecificSettingsStep<T> extends ProjectSettingsStepBase<T> i
     final Sdk preferredSdk = getPreferredSdk(existingSdks);
 
     final String newProjectPath = getNewProjectPath();
-    final PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel newEnvironmentPanel = new PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel(existingSdks, newProjectPath);
+    final PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel newEnvironmentPanel = new PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel(existingSdks, newProjectPath, preferredEnvironment);
     final PyAddExistingSdkPanel existingSdkPanel = new PyAddExistingSdkPanel(null, existingSdks, newProjectPath, preferredSdk);
 
     final PyAddSdkPanel defaultPanel = PySdkSettings.getInstance().getUseNewEnvironmentForNewProject() ?
diff --git a/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel.kt b/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel.kt
index a90a7dab88de..5971c93da16c 100644
--- a/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel.kt
+++ b/python/python-community-configure/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/steps/PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel.kt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import javax.swing.JList
 /**
  * @author vlan
  */
-class PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel(existingSdks: List<Sdk>, newProjectPath: String?) : PyAddSdkPanel() {
+class PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel(existingSdks: List<Sdk>, newProjectPath: String?, preferredType: String?) : PyAddSdkPanel() {
   override val panelName = "New environment using"
   override val nameExtensionComponent: JComboBox<PyAddNewEnvPanel>
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class PyAddNewEnvironmentPanel(existingSdks: List<Sdk>, newProjectPath: String?)
   private val panels = listOf(PyAddNewVirtualEnvPanel(null, existingSdks, newProjectPath),
                               PyAddNewCondaEnvPanel(null, existingSdks, newProjectPath))
 
-  var selectedPanel = panels.find { it.envName == PySdkSettings.instance.preferredEnvironmentType } ?: panels[0]
+  var selectedPanel = panels.find { it.envName == preferredType ?: PySdkSettings.instance.preferredEnvironmentType } ?: panels[0]
 
   private val listeners = mutableListOf<Runnable>()
 
diff --git a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/PythonProjectGenerator.java b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/PythonProjectGenerator.java
index 36ea2aa46dd7..a64cb4017757 100644
--- a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/PythonProjectGenerator.java
+++ b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/newProject/PythonProjectGenerator.java
@@ -320,6 +320,11 @@ public abstract class PythonProjectGenerator<T extends PyNewProjectSettings> ext
     return errorDescription;
   }
 
+  @Nullable
+  public String getPreferredEnvironmentType() {
+    return null;
+  }
+
   /**
    * To be thrown if project can't be created on this sdk
    *