diff --git a/emsdk b/emsdk
index 6e3e037..9b9f83a 100755
--- a/emsdk
+++ b/emsdk
@@ -2263,8 +2263,8 @@ def main():
           print("Error: No tool or SDK found by name '" + sys.argv[i] + "'.")
           return 1
         tools_to_activate += [tool]
-    tools_to_activate = set_active_tools(tools_to_activate, permanently_activate=permanently_activate)
-    if WINDOWS and not permanently_activate:
+    tools_to_activate = set_active_tools(tools_to_activate, permanently_activate=arg_global)
+    if WINDOWS and not arg_global:
       print('The changes made to environment variables only apply to the currently running shell instance. Use the \'emsdk_env.bat\' to re-enter this environment later, or if you\'d like to permanently register this environment globally to all users in Windows Registry, rerun this command with the option --global.')
     return 0
   elif cmd == 'install':