diff --git a/Lib/test/test_venv.py b/Lib/test/test_venv.py
index 6852625c36c62bd..6dda00efd7bbb69 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_venv.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_venv.py
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def test_config_file_command_key(self):
             ('--clear', 'clear', True),
             ('--upgrade', 'upgrade', True),
             ('--upgrade-deps', 'upgrade_deps', True),
-            ('--prompt', 'prompt', True),
+            ('--prompt="foobar"', 'prompt', 'foobar'),
             ('--without-scm-ignore-files', 'scm_ignore_files', frozenset()),
         ]
         for opt, attr, value in options:
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def test_prompt(self):
         self.run_with_capture(builder.create, self.env_dir)
         context = builder.ensure_directories(self.env_dir)
         data = self.get_text_file_contents('pyvenv.cfg')
-        self.assertEqual(context.prompt, '(%s) ' % env_name)
+        self.assertEqual(context.prompt, env_name)
         self.assertNotIn("prompt = ", data)
 
         rmtree(self.env_dir)
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ def test_prompt(self):
         self.run_with_capture(builder.create, self.env_dir)
         context = builder.ensure_directories(self.env_dir)
         data = self.get_text_file_contents('pyvenv.cfg')
-        self.assertEqual(context.prompt, '(My prompt) ')
+        self.assertEqual(context.prompt, 'My prompt')
         self.assertIn("prompt = 'My prompt'\n", data)
 
         rmtree(self.env_dir)
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def test_prompt(self):
         self.run_with_capture(builder.create, self.env_dir)
         context = builder.ensure_directories(self.env_dir)
         data = self.get_text_file_contents('pyvenv.cfg')
-        self.assertEqual(context.prompt, '(%s) ' % cwd)
+        self.assertEqual(context.prompt, cwd)
         self.assertIn("prompt = '%s'\n" % cwd, data)
 
     def test_upgrade_dependencies(self):
diff --git a/Lib/venv/__init__.py b/Lib/venv/__init__.py
index f04ca8fafcc33ba..4856594755ae577 100644
--- a/Lib/venv/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/venv/__init__.py
@@ -129,8 +129,7 @@ def create_if_needed(d):
         context = types.SimpleNamespace()
         context.env_dir = env_dir
         context.env_name = os.path.split(env_dir)[1]
-        prompt = self.prompt if self.prompt is not None else context.env_name
-        context.prompt = '(%s) ' % prompt
+        context.prompt = self.prompt if self.prompt is not None else context.env_name
         create_if_needed(env_dir)
         executable = sys._base_executable
         if not executable:  # see gh-96861
diff --git a/Lib/venv/scripts/common/activate b/Lib/venv/scripts/common/activate
index a4e0609045a9d5e..cbd4873f0122464 100644
--- a/Lib/venv/scripts/common/activate
+++ b/Lib/venv/scripts/common/activate
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fi
 
 if [ -z "${VIRTUAL_ENV_DISABLE_PROMPT:-}" ] ; then
     _OLD_VIRTUAL_PS1="${PS1:-}"
-    PS1="__VENV_PROMPT__${PS1:-}"
+    PS1="(__VENV_PROMPT__) ${PS1:-}"
     export PS1
 fi
 
diff --git a/Lib/venv/scripts/nt/activate.bat b/Lib/venv/scripts/nt/activate.bat
index c1c3c82ee37f107..2c98122362a060f 100644
--- a/Lib/venv/scripts/nt/activate.bat
+++ b/Lib/venv/scripts/nt/activate.bat
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ if defined _OLD_VIRTUAL_PROMPT set PROMPT=%_OLD_VIRTUAL_PROMPT%
 if defined _OLD_VIRTUAL_PYTHONHOME set PYTHONHOME=%_OLD_VIRTUAL_PYTHONHOME%
 
 set _OLD_VIRTUAL_PROMPT=%PROMPT%
-set PROMPT=__VENV_PROMPT__%PROMPT%
+set PROMPT=(__VENV_PROMPT__) %PROMPT%
 
 if defined PYTHONHOME set _OLD_VIRTUAL_PYTHONHOME=%PYTHONHOME%
 set PYTHONHOME=
diff --git a/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.csh b/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.csh
index 9caf138a919a867..c707f1988b0acc2 100644
--- a/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.csh
+++ b/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.csh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ setenv VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT "__VENV_PROMPT__"
 set _OLD_VIRTUAL_PROMPT="$prompt"
 
 if (! "$?VIRTUAL_ENV_DISABLE_PROMPT") then
-    set prompt = "__VENV_PROMPT__$prompt"
+    set prompt = "(__VENV_PROMPT__) $prompt"
 endif
 
 alias pydoc python -m pydoc
diff --git a/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.fish b/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.fish
index 565df23d1e2a13d..25c42756789bbca 100644
--- a/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.fish
+++ b/Lib/venv/scripts/posix/activate.fish
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ if test -z "$VIRTUAL_ENV_DISABLE_PROMPT"
         set -l old_status $status
 
         # Output the venv prompt; color taken from the blue of the Python logo.
-        printf "%s%s%s" (set_color 4B8BBE) "__VENV_PROMPT__" (set_color normal)
+        printf "%s(%s)%s " (set_color 4B8BBE) "__VENV_PROMPT__" (set_color normal)
 
         # Restore the return status of the previous command.
         echo "exit $old_status" | .