diff --git a/crates/uv-python/src/installation.rs b/crates/uv-python/src/installation.rs
index c30334983..096c1f679 100644
--- a/crates/uv-python/src/installation.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-python/src/installation.rs
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ impl PythonInstallation {
     ///
     /// Unlike [`PythonInstallation::find`], if the required Python is not installed it will be installed automatically.
     pub async fn find_or_download<'a>(
-        request: Option<PythonRequest>,
+        request: Option<&PythonRequest>,
         environments: EnvironmentPreference,
         preference: PythonPreference,
         python_downloads: PythonDownloads,
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ impl PythonInstallation {
         cache: &Cache,
         reporter: Option<&dyn Reporter>,
     ) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        let request = request.unwrap_or_default();
+        let request = request.unwrap_or_else(|| &PythonRequest::Any);
 
         // Search for the installation
-        match Self::find(&request, environments, preference, cache) {
+        match Self::find(request, environments, preference, cache) {
             Ok(venv) => Ok(venv),
             // If missing and allowed, perform a fetch
             Err(Error::MissingPython(err))
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ impl PythonInstallation {
                     && python_downloads.is_automatic()
                     && client_builder.connectivity.is_online() =>
             {
-                if let Some(request) = PythonDownloadRequest::from_request(&request) {
+                if let Some(request) = PythonDownloadRequest::from_request(request) {
                     debug!("Requested Python not found, checking for available download...");
                     match Self::fetch(request.fill()?, client_builder, cache, reporter).await {
                         Ok(installation) => Ok(installation),
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs
index 984714295..180f2dd48 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn add(
             };
 
             let interpreter = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-                Some(python_request),
+                Some(&python_request),
                 EnvironmentPreference::Any,
                 python_preference,
                 python_downloads,
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn add(
         };
 
         let interpreter = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-            python_request,
+            python_request.as_ref(),
             EnvironmentPreference::Any,
             python_preference,
             python_downloads,
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/init.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/init.rs
index 659049248..f8fe7f8de 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/init.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/init.rs
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ async fn init_project(
                     .connectivity(connectivity)
                     .native_tls(native_tls);
                 let interpreter = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-                    Some(request),
+                    Some(&request),
                     EnvironmentPreference::Any,
                     python_preference,
                     python_downloads,
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ async fn init_project(
             .connectivity(connectivity)
             .native_tls(native_tls);
         let interpreter = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-            Some(request),
+            Some(&request),
             EnvironmentPreference::Any,
             python_preference,
             python_downloads,
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/mod.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/mod.rs
index 15285063f..8e92b18f2 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/mod.rs
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ impl FoundInterpreter {
 
         // Locate the Python interpreter to use in the environment
         let python = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-            python_request,
+            python_request.as_ref(),
             EnvironmentPreference::OnlySystem,
             python_preference,
             python_downloads,
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/run.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/run.rs
index 790cce6af..8f8cb7185 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/run.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/run.rs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn run(
             .native_tls(native_tls);
 
         let interpreter = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-            python_request,
+            python_request.as_ref(),
             EnvironmentPreference::Any,
             python_preference,
             python_downloads,
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn run(
                     .await?;
 
                     PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-                        python_request,
+                        python_request.as_ref(),
                         EnvironmentPreference::Any,
                         python_preference,
                         python_downloads,
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn run(
                 };
 
                 let python = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-                    python_request,
+                    python_request.as_ref(),
                     // No opt-in is required for system environments, since we are not mutating it.
                     EnvironmentPreference::Any,
                     python_preference,
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/install.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/install.rs
index ace541728..eef29cea3 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/install.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/install.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
     // Pre-emptively identify a Python interpreter. We need an interpreter to resolve any unnamed
     // requirements, even if we end up using a different interpreter for the tool install itself.
     let interpreter = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-        python_request.clone(),
+        python_request.as_ref(),
         EnvironmentPreference::OnlySystem,
         python_preference,
         python_downloads,
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/run.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/run.rs
index 4500f0412..55d904238 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/run.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/run.rs
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ async fn get_or_create_environment(
 
     // Discover an interpreter.
     let interpreter = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-        python_request.clone(),
+        python_request.as_ref(),
         EnvironmentPreference::OnlySystem,
         python_preference,
         python_downloads,
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/venv.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/venv.rs
index eb4d57341..e5024d7ea 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/venv.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/venv.rs
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ async fn venv_impl(
 
     // Locate the Python interpreter to use in the environment
     let python = PythonInstallation::find_or_download(
-        interpreter_request,
+        interpreter_request.as_ref(),
         EnvironmentPreference::OnlySystem,
         python_preference,
         python_downloads,