diff --git a/packages/cli/src/server/desktop/mod.rs b/packages/cli/src/server/desktop/mod.rs
index 9b79bdea9..0cd21d1b6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/server/desktop/mod.rs
+++ b/packages/cli/src/server/desktop/mod.rs
@@ -240,7 +240,10 @@ pub fn start_desktop(config: &CrateConfig) -> Result<(Child, BuildResult)> {
             if cfg!(windows) {
                 file.set_extension("exe");
             }
-            let child = Command::new(file.to_str().unwrap()).spawn()?;
+            let active = "DIOXUS_ACTIVE";
+            let child = Command::new(file.to_str().unwrap())
+                .env(active, "true")
+                .spawn()?;
 
             Ok((child, result))
         }
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/protocol.rs b/packages/desktop/src/protocol.rs
index 8ec5e1821..3d03ac3eb 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/protocol.rs
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/protocol.rs
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ fn get_asset_root() -> Option<PathBuf> {
 
     */
 
-    if std::env::var_os("CARGO").is_some() {
+    if std::env::var_os("CARGO").is_some() || std::env::var_os("DIOXUS_ACTIVE").is_some() {
         return None;
     }