diff --git a/docs/changelog/2058.bugfix.rst b/docs/changelog/2058.bugfix.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..516eff42d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/2058.bugfix.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Running virtualenv ``--upgrade-embed-wheels`` crashes - by :user:`gaborbernat`.
diff --git a/src/virtualenv/seed/wheels/periodic_update.py b/src/virtualenv/seed/wheels/periodic_update.py
index 18fcfa330..4725a57a8 100644
--- a/src/virtualenv/seed/wheels/periodic_update.py
+++ b/src/virtualenv/seed/wheels/periodic_update.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import ssl
 import subprocess
 import sys
+import os
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from itertools import groupby
 from shutil import copy2
@@ -235,6 +236,7 @@ def _run_do_update(app_data, distribution, embed_filename, for_py_version, perio
             search_dirs=search_dirs,
             app_data=app_data,
             to_folder=wheelhouse,
+            env=os.environ
         )
         if dest is None or (u_log.versions and u_log.versions[0].filename == dest.name):
             break
diff --git a/tests/unit/seed/wheels/test_periodic_update.py b/tests/unit/seed/wheels/test_periodic_update.py
index 6d0b66d85..2ea473277 100644
--- a/tests/unit/seed/wheels/test_periodic_update.py
+++ b/tests/unit/seed/wheels/test_periodic_update.py
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ def test_do_update_first(tmp_path, mocker, freezer):
     ]
     download_wheels = (Wheel(Path(i[0])) for i in pip_version_remote)
 
-    def _download_wheel(distribution, version_spec, for_py_version, search_dirs, app_data, to_folder):
+    def _download_wheel(distribution, version_spec, for_py_version, search_dirs, app_data, to_folder, env):
         assert distribution == "pip"
         assert for_py_version == "3.9"
         assert [str(i) for i in search_dirs] == [str(extra)]
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ def test_do_update_skip_already_done(tmp_path, mocker, freezer):
     extra = tmp_path / "extra"
     extra.mkdir()
 
-    def _download_wheel(distribution, version_spec, for_py_version, search_dirs, app_data, to_folder):  # noqa
+    def _download_wheel(distribution, version_spec, for_py_version, search_dirs, app_data, to_folder, env):  # noqa
         return wheel.path
 
     download_wheel = mocker.patch("virtualenv.seed.wheels.acquire.download_wheel", side_effect=_download_wheel)