diff --git a/virtualenv.py b/virtualenv.py

index e5d0883..34d2160 100755

--- a/virtualenv.py

+++ b/virtualenv.py

@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@

 import os

 import sys

+# The way virtualenv < 20 creates virtual environments

+# is not compatible with Python 3.11+ "frozen standard library modules"

+# https://docs.python.org/3.11/whatsnew/3.11.html#frozen-imports-static-code-objects

+if sys.version_info >= (3, 11):

+    venv_cmd = 'python{0.major}.{0.minor} -m venv'.format(sys.version_info)

+    sys.exit('ERROR: Virtual environments created by virtualenv < 20 '

+             'are not compatible with Python 3.11.\n'

+             'ERROR: Use `{}` instead.'.format(venv_cmd))

+

 # If we are running in a new interpreter to create a virtualenv,

 # we do NOT want paths from our existing location interfering with anything,

 # So we remove this file's directory from sys.path - most likely to be