diff --git a/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/Command.hs b/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/Command.hs
index dc2be1a698b..ae191ccc30a 100644
--- a/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/Command.hs
+++ b/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/Command.hs
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ import Distribution.ReadE
 import Distribution.Simple.Utils
 import System.Directory (findExecutable)
 import System.Process (callProcess)
+import System.Environment (getExecutablePath, setEnv)
 
 data CommandUI flags = CommandUI
   { commandName :: String
@@ -651,7 +652,10 @@ commandsRun globalCommand commands args =
         _ -> do
           mCommand <- findExecutable $ "cabal-" <> name
           case mCommand of
-            Just exec -> callExternal flags exec cmdArgs
+            Just exec -> do
+                execPath <- getExecutablePath
+                void $ setEnv "CABAL" execPath
+                callExternal flags exec cmdArgs
             Nothing -> pure $ CommandReadyToGo (flags, badCommand name)
       [] -> pure $ CommandReadyToGo (flags, noCommand)
       where