diff --git a/.appveyor.yml b/.appveyor.yml
index 5a293c5e9619..806dc6ae362b 100644
--- a/.appveyor.yml
+++ b/.appveyor.yml
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ install:
   - set PATH=%CONDA_INSTALL_LOCN%;%CONDA_INSTALL_LOCN%\scripts;%PATH%;
   - set PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
   # for msinttypes and newer stuff
+  - conda activate base
   - conda config --set always_yes true
   - conda update --all
   - conda config --set show_channel_urls yes