diff --git a/exec_cmd.c b/exec_cmd.c
index cdd35f9195..351fec2e9e 100644
--- a/exec_cmd.c
+++ b/exec_cmd.c
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ void git_set_argv0_path(const char *path)
 void git_set_argv_exec_path(const char *exec_path)
 {
 	argv_exec_path = exec_path;
+	/*
+	 * Propagate this setting to external programs.
+	 */
+	setenv(EXEC_PATH_ENVIRONMENT, exec_path, 1);
 }