diff --git a/platform/platform-util-io/src/com/intellij/execution/util/ExecUtil.kt b/platform/platform-util-io/src/com/intellij/execution/util/ExecUtil.kt
index 537ab9a14e97..2744a710b859 100644
--- a/platform/platform-util-io/src/com/intellij/execution/util/ExecUtil.kt
+++ b/platform/platform-util-io/src/com/intellij/execution/util/ExecUtil.kt
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ object ExecUtil {
   @JvmStatic
   fun EelExecApi.startProcessBlockingUsingEel(builder: ProcessBuilder, pty: LocalPtyOptions?): Process {
     val args = builder.command()
-    val exe = args.first()
+    val exe = args.first().let { exe -> runCatching { Path.of(exe).asEelPath().toString() }.getOrNull() ?: exe }
     val rest = args.subList(1, args.size)
     val env = builder.environment()
     val workingDir = builder.directory()?.toPath()?.asEelPath()