diff --git a/conda/common/path.py b/conda/common/path.py
index 32ed396..76bc20a 100644
--- a/conda/common/path.py
+++ b/conda/common/path.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import os
 import re
 import subprocess
+import sys
 from functools import lru_cache, reduce
 from itertools import accumulate, chain
 from logging import getLogger
@@ -175,9 +176,11 @@ def parse_entry_point_def(ep_definition):
 def get_python_short_path(python_version=None):
     if on_win:
         return "python.exe"
-    if python_version and "." not in python_version:
+    if not python_version:
+        return sys.executable
+    if '.' not in python_version:
         python_version = ".".join(python_version)
-    return join("bin", "python%s" % (python_version or ""))
+    return join("bin", "python" + python_version)
 
 
 def get_python_site_packages_short_path(python_version):