diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6ba0d90eb7..32dd2d47a1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,7 +4,13 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
-## [0.18.2] - Nov. XX, 2024
+## [0.18.3] - Dec. XX, 2024
+
+### Fixed
+
+* Enabled `dpctl` in virtual environment on Windows platform (issue [gh-1745](https://github.com/IntelPython/dpctl/issues/1745)) [gh-1924](https://github.com/IntelPython/dpctl/pull/1924)
+
+## [0.18.2] - Nov. 21, 2024
 
 ### Maintenance
 
diff --git a/dpctl/__init__.py b/dpctl/__init__.py
index b7f85cea99..0eb474602b 100644
--- a/dpctl/__init__.py
+++ b/dpctl/__init__.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import os
 import os.path
 
+from . import _init_helper
 from ._device_selection import select_device_with_aspects
 from ._sycl_context import SyclContext, SyclContextCreationError
 from ._sycl_device import (
@@ -137,3 +138,4 @@ def get_include():
 
 __version__ = get_versions()["version"]
 del get_versions
+del _init_helper
diff --git a/dpctl/_init_helper.py b/dpctl/_init_helper.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8ced7eee41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dpctl/_init_helper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#                      Data Parallel Control (dpctl)
+#
+# Copyright 2020-2024 Intel Corporation
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import os
+import os.path
+import sys
+
+is_venv_win32 = (
+    sys.platform == "win32"
+    and sys.base_exec_prefix != sys.exec_prefix
+    and os.path.isfile(os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, "pyvenv.cfg"))
+)
+
+if is_venv_win32:
+    # For virtual environments on Windows, add folder
+    # with DPC++ libraries to the DLL search path gh-1745
+    dll_dir = os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, "Library", "bin")
+    if os.path.isdir(dll_dir):
+        os.add_dll_directory(dll_dir)
+
+del is_venv_win32