diff --git a/conda/core/solve.py b/conda/core/solve.py
index eddf9c074ed..f9f414851bb 100644
--- a/conda/core/solve.py
+++ b/conda/core/solve.py
@@ -576,12 +576,7 @@ def _add_specs(self, ssc):
                 if ssc.r.get_conflicting_specs(spec_set):
                     # raises a hopefully helpful error message
                     ssc.r.find_conflicts(spec_set)
-                python_prefix_rec = ssc.prefix_data.get('python')
-                if python_prefix_rec:
-                    python_target = python_prefix_rec.dist_str()
-                    ssc.specs_map['python'] = MatchSpec(python_spec, target=python_target)
-                else:
-                    ssc.specs_map['python'] = python_spec
+                ssc.specs_map['python'] = python_spec
 
         # For the aggressive_update_packages configuration parameter, we strip any target
         # that's been set.