diff --git a/openadapt/cli.py b/openadapt/cli.py
index 9f00b71f5..dff42a552 100644
--- a/openadapt/cli.py
+++ b/openadapt/cli.py
@@ -718,7 +718,11 @@ def _launcher_version(path: str, run=None) -> Optional[str]:
 
     try:
         result = (run or subprocess.run)(
-            [path, "--version"], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=15
+            [path, "--version"],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            timeout=15,
+            env={**os.environ, _NO_LAUNCHER_CHECK: "1"},
         )
         text = f"{result.stdout} {result.stderr}"
     except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - an unrunnable openadapt has no version
@@ -824,7 +828,15 @@ def _launcher_conflicts(launchers=None, run=None) -> list[str]:
     return lines
 
 
+#: Set in the environment of every ``openadapt --version`` this check runs, so
+#: the child never runs the check itself. Without it, two installs that both
+#: carry the check ask each other for their version forever.
+_NO_LAUNCHER_CHECK = "OPENADAPT_NO_LAUNCHER_CHECK"
+
+
 def _warn_about_launcher_conflicts() -> None:
+    if os.environ.get(_NO_LAUNCHER_CHECK):
+        return
     try:
         lines = _launcher_conflicts()
     except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - a PATH check must never break a command
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_uvx_hints.py b/tests/test_cli_uvx_hints.py
index 9c04ba90d..fc9949dd0 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_uvx_hints.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_uvx_hints.py
@@ -112,3 +112,26 @@ def test_the_finale_prints_keep_it_and_the_shadow_warning(
     )
     finale = lines[lines.index("Receipt") :]
     assert len(finale) <= 12
+
+
+def test_version_check_never_recurses(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    """The child ``openadapt --version`` gets a guard, and the guard stops the check."""
+    seen = {}
+
+    def fake_run(args, **kwargs):
+        seen["env"] = kwargs.get("env") or {}
+
+        class R:
+            stdout = "openadapt, version 0.0.1"
+            stderr = ""
+
+        return R()
+
+    assert cli._launcher_version("/x/openadapt", fake_run) == "0.0.1"
+    assert seen["env"].get(cli._NO_LAUNCHER_CHECK) == "1"
+
+    called = []
+    monkeypatch.setenv(cli._NO_LAUNCHER_CHECK, "1")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "_launcher_conflicts", lambda: called.append(1) or [])
+    cli._warn_about_launcher_conflicts()
+    assert called == []