diff --git a/electron-cash b/electron-cash
index 2169b73e4349..4378c2b2878f 100755
--- a/electron-cash
+++ b/electron-cash
@@ -447,10 +447,11 @@ def process_config_options(args):
     config_options["cwd"] = os.getcwd()
 
     # fixme: this can probably be achieved with a runtime hook (pyinstaller)
-    meipass = getattr(sys, "_MEIPASS", None)
-    if meipass:
-        tmp_folder = os.path.join(meipass, "is_portable")
-        config_options["portable"] = is_pyinstaller and os.path.exists(tmp_folder)
+    if not config_options.get("portable"):
+        meipass = getattr(sys, "_MEIPASS", None)
+        if meipass:
+            tmp_folder = os.path.join(meipass, "is_portable")
+            config_options["portable"] = is_pyinstaller and os.path.exists(tmp_folder)
 
     if config_options.get("portable"):
         if is_local: