diff --git a/builder/frameworks/espidf.py b/builder/frameworks/espidf.py
index c199dc415..dc132c06b 100644
--- a/builder/frameworks/espidf.py
+++ b/builder/frameworks/espidf.py
@@ -1489,11 +1489,13 @@ def generate_mbedtls_bundle(sdk_config):
 
 
 def install_python_deps():
+    PYTHON_EXE = env.subst("$PYTHONEXE")
+    UV_EXE = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(PYTHON_EXE), "uv" + (".exe" if IS_WINDOWS else ""))
     def _get_installed_uv_packages(python_exe_path):
         result = {}
         try:
             uv_output = subprocess.check_output([
-                "uv", "pip", "list", "--python", python_exe_path, "--format=json"
+                UV_EXE, "pip", "list", "--python", python_exe_path, "--format=json"
             ])
             packages = json.loads(uv_output)
         except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, json.JSONDecodeError, OSError) as e:
@@ -1540,7 +1542,7 @@ def _get_installed_uv_packages(python_exe_path):
         # Use uv to install packages in the specific Python environment
         env.Execute(
             env.VerboseAction(
-                f'uv pip install --python "{python_exe_path}" {packages_str}',
+                f'"{UV_EXE}" pip install --python "{python_exe_path}" {packages_str}',
                 "Installing ESP-IDF's Python dependencies with uv",
             )
         )
@@ -1549,7 +1551,7 @@ def _get_installed_uv_packages(python_exe_path):
         # Install windows-curses in the IDF Python environment
         env.Execute(
             env.VerboseAction(
-                f'uv pip install --python "{python_exe_path}" windows-curses',
+                f'"{UV_EXE}" pip install --python "{python_exe_path}" windows-curses',
                 "Installing windows-curses package with uv",
             )
         )
@@ -2140,7 +2142,8 @@ def idf_lib_copy(source, target, env):
             pass
         print("*** Copied compiled %s IDF libraries to Arduino framework ***" % idf_variant)
 
-        pio_exe_path = shutil.which("platformio"+(".exe" if IS_WINDOWS else ""))
+        PYTHON_EXE = env.subst("$PYTHONEXE")
+        pio_exe_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(PYTHON_EXE), "pio" + (".exe" if IS_WINDOWS else ""))
         pio_cmd = env["PIOENV"]
         env.Execute(
             env.VerboseAction(
diff --git a/builder/main.py b/builder/main.py
index 4e8e31313..10ee28480 100644
--- a/builder/main.py
+++ b/builder/main.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 # Python dependencies required for the build process
 python_deps = {
     "uv": ">=0.1.0",
+    "platformio": ">=6.1.18",
     "pyyaml": ">=6.0.2",
     "rich-click": ">=1.8.6",
     "zopfli": ">=0.2.2",
@@ -179,8 +180,7 @@ def install_python_deps():
                 [PYTHON_EXE, "-m", "pip", "install", "uv>=0.1.0", "-q", "-q", "-q"],
                 capture_output=True,
                 text=True,
-                timeout=30,  # 30 second timeout
-                env=os.environ  # Use current environment with venv Python
+                timeout=30  # 30 second timeout
             )
             if result.returncode != 0:
                 if result.stderr:
@@ -200,21 +200,20 @@ def install_python_deps():
     
     def _get_installed_uv_packages():
         """
-        Get list of installed packages using uv.
+        Get list of installed packages in virtual env 'penv' using uv.
         
         Returns:
             dict: Dictionary of installed packages with versions
         """
         result = {}
         try:
-            cmd = [uv_executable, "pip", "list", "--format=json"]
+            cmd = [uv_executable, "pip", "list", f"--python={PYTHON_EXE}", "--format=json"]
             result_obj = subprocess.run(
                 cmd,
                 capture_output=True,
                 text=True,
                 encoding='utf-8',
-                timeout=30,  # 30 second timeout
-                env=os.environ  # Use current environment with venv Python
+                timeout=30  # 30 second timeout
             )
             
             if result_obj.returncode == 0:
@@ -256,8 +255,7 @@ def _get_installed_uv_packages():
                 cmd,
                 capture_output=True,
                 text=True,
-                timeout=30,  # 30 second timeout for package installation
-                env=os.environ  # Use current environment with venv Python
+                timeout=30  # 30 second timeout for package installation
             )
             
             if result.returncode != 0:
@@ -290,8 +288,7 @@ def install_esptool():
         subprocess.check_call(
             [PYTHON_EXE, "-c", "import esptool"], 
             stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, 
-            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
-            env=os.environ
+            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL
         )
         return
     except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, FileNotFoundError):
@@ -307,7 +304,7 @@ def install_esptool():
             uv_executable, "pip", "install", "--quiet",
             f"--python={PYTHON_EXE}",
             "-e", esptool_repo_path
-        ], env=os.environ)
+        ])
 
         return