diff --git a/constructor/header.sh b/constructor/header.sh
index 129d3da95..2edb0ca44 100644
--- a/constructor/header.sh
+++ b/constructor/header.sh
@@ -461,11 +461,15 @@ mkdir -p "$TMP"
 # We need to specify CONDA_SOLVER=classic for conda-standalone
 # to work around this bug in conda-libmamba-solver:
 # https://github.com/conda/conda-libmamba-solver/issues/480
+# micromamba needs an existing pkgs_dir to operate even offline,
+# but we haven't created $PREFIX/pkgs yet... give it a temp location
 # shellcheck disable=SC2050
 if [ "__VIRTUAL_SPECS__" != "" ]; then
+    echo 'Checking virtual specs compatibility: __VIRTUAL_SPECS__'
     CONDA_QUIET="$BATCH" \
     CONDA_SOLVER="classic" \
-    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__
+    CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$(mktemp -d)" \
+    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX/envs/_virtual_specs_checks" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__
 fi
 
 # Create $PREFIX/.nonadmin if the installation didn't require superuser permissions
diff --git a/constructor/nsis/main.nsi.tmpl b/constructor/nsis/main.nsi.tmpl
index 96190cf6e..133904460 100644
--- a/constructor/nsis/main.nsi.tmpl
+++ b/constructor/nsis/main.nsi.tmpl
@@ -1139,7 +1139,7 @@ Section "Install"
     System::Call 'kernel32::SetEnvironmentVariable(t,t)i("CONDA_SOLVER", "classic").r0'
     SetDetailsPrint TextOnly
     DetailPrint "Checking virtual specs..."
-    push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" create --dry-run --prefix "$INSTDIR" --offline @VIRTUAL_SPECS@'
+    push '"$INSTDIR\_conda.exe" create --dry-run --prefix "$INSTDIR\envs\_virtual_specs_checks" --offline @VIRTUAL_SPECS@'
     push 'Failed to check virtual specs: @VIRTUAL_SPECS@'
     push 'WithLog'
     call AbortRetryNSExecWait
diff --git a/constructor/osx/prepare_installation.sh b/constructor/osx/prepare_installation.sh
index 6d59d60a8..35f7b3e17 100644
--- a/constructor/osx/prepare_installation.sh
+++ b/constructor/osx/prepare_installation.sh
@@ -35,11 +35,14 @@ touch "$PREFIX/conda-meta/history"
 # We need to specify CONDA_SOLVER=classic for conda-standalone
 # to work around this bug in conda-libmamba-solver:
 # https://github.com/conda/conda-libmamba-solver/issues/480
+# micromamba needs an existing pkgs_dir to operate even offline,
+# but we haven't created $PREFIX/pkgs yet... do it in a temporary location
 # shellcheck disable=SC2050
 if [ "__VIRTUAL_SPECS__" != "" ]; then
-    CONDA_QUIET="$BATCH" \
+    notify 'Checking virtual specs compatibility: __VIRTUAL_SPECS__'
     CONDA_SOLVER="classic" \
-    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__
+    CONDA_PKGS_DIRS="$(mktemp -d)" \
+    "$CONDA_EXEC" create --dry-run --prefix "$PREFIX/envs/_virtual_specs_checks" --offline __VIRTUAL_SPECS__
 fi
 
 # Create $PREFIX/.nonadmin if the installation didn't require superuser permissions
diff --git a/examples/virtual_specs/construct.yaml b/examples/virtual_specs_failed/construct.yaml
similarity index 91%
rename from examples/virtual_specs/construct.yaml
rename to examples/virtual_specs_failed/construct.yaml
index 7b04c0b6a..0b8eae288 100644
--- a/examples/virtual_specs/construct.yaml
+++ b/examples/virtual_specs_failed/construct.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: virtual_specs
+name: virtual_specs_failed
 
 version: 0.0.1
 
diff --git a/examples/virtual_specs_ok/construct.yaml b/examples/virtual_specs_ok/construct.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e92e61f49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/virtual_specs_ok/construct.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+name: virtual_specs_ok
+
+version: 0.0.1
+
+keep_pkgs: True
+
+channels:
+  - conda-forge
+
+specs:
+  - ca-certificates
+
+virtual_specs:
+  - __osx>=10.9    # [osx]
+  - __glibc>=2.12  # [linux]
+  - __win>=0       # [win]
+
+initialize_by_default: false
+register_python: false
+check_path_spaces: false
+check_path_length: false
+installer_type: all
diff --git a/news/843-conda-pkgs-dirs-virtual-specs b/news/843-conda-pkgs-dirs-virtual-specs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b11a67003
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/843-conda-pkgs-dirs-virtual-specs
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* Fix a couple issues in the `virtual_specs` feature (set `CONDA_PKGS_DIRS` for `micromamba`, do not rely on `$BATCH` for PKG, update the Windows example). (#843)
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>
diff --git a/tests/test_examples.py b/tests/test_examples.py
index 7a0975799..2fcfcf753 100644
--- a/tests/test_examples.py
+++ b/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -693,8 +693,8 @@ def test_cross_osx_building(tmp_path):
     )
 
 
-def test_virtual_specs(tmp_path, request):
-    input_path = _example_path("virtual_specs")
+def test_virtual_specs_failed(tmp_path, request):
+    input_path = _example_path("virtual_specs_failed")
     for installer, install_dir in create_installer(input_path, tmp_path):
         process = _run_installer(
             input_path,
@@ -720,3 +720,16 @@ def test_virtual_specs(tmp_path, request):
             msg = "Installer requires"
         assert process.returncode != 0
         assert msg in process.stdout + process.stderr
+
+
+def test_virtual_specs_ok(tmp_path, request):
+    input_path = _example_path("virtual_specs_ok")
+    for installer, install_dir in create_installer(input_path, tmp_path):
+        _run_installer(
+            input_path,
+            installer,
+            install_dir,
+            request=request,
+            check_subprocess=True,
+            uninstall=True,
+        )