diff --git a/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/index.js b/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/index.js
index 1c427a1aa5..5e44817faf 100644
--- a/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/index.js
+++ b/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/index.js
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ import {
 import package_json from "./package.json" with { type: "json" };
 import { createRequire } from "node:module";
 
-// exports
-// - [ ] a raw starter that has a stdin/out handle thingie like desktop uses
-// - [X] a function that already wraps the stdio handle from above into the deltachat jsonrpc bindings
-
 function findRPCServerInNodeModules() {
   const arch = os.arch();
   const operating_system = process.platform;
@@ -43,6 +39,32 @@ function findRPCServerInNodeModules() {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * @returns {Promise<string>}
+ */
+async function getLocationInPath() {
+  const exec = promisify(execFile);
+
+  if (os.platform() === "win32") {
+    const { stdout: executable } = await exec("where", [PATH_EXECUTABLE_NAME], {
+      shell: true,
+    });
+    return executable;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const { stdout: executable } = await exec(
+      "command",
+      ["-v", PATH_EXECUTABLE_NAME],
+      { shell: true }
+    );
+    return executable;
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error.code == 127) return "";
+    else throw error
+  }
+}
+
 /** @type {import("./index").FnTypes.getRPCServerPath} */
 export async function getRPCServerPath(
   options = { skipSearchInPath: false, disableEnvPath: false }
@@ -65,12 +87,7 @@ export async function getRPCServerPath(
 
   // 2. check if it can be found in PATH
   if (!process.env[SKIP_SEARCH_IN_PATH] && !skipSearchInPath) {
-    const exec = promisify(execFile);
-
-    const { stdout: executable } =
-      os.platform() !== "win32"
-        ? await exec("command", ["-v", PATH_EXECUTABLE_NAME], { shell: true })
-        : await exec("where", [PATH_EXECUTABLE_NAME], { shell: true });
+    const executable = await getLocationInPath();
 
     // by just trying to execute it and then use "command -v deltachat-rpc-server" (unix) or "where deltachat-rpc-server" (windows) to get the path to the executable
     if (executable.length > 1) {