diff --git a/patoolib/__init__.py b/patoolib/__init__.py
index 91487d7..c384c02 100644
--- a/patoolib/__init__.py
+++ b/patoolib/__init__.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 import os
 import shutil
-from distutils.spawn import find_executable
 from . import util
 
 # Supported archive commands
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ def find_archive_program (format, command):
         raise util.PatoolError("%s archive format `%s' is not supported" % (command, format))
     # return the first existing program
     for program in programs:
-        exe = find_executable(program)
+        exe = util.find_program(program)
         if exe:
             if program == '7z' and format == 'rar' and not util.p7zip_supports_rar():
                 continue
@@ -209,7 +208,7 @@ def find_encoding_program (program, encoding):
     no encoding program could be found"""
     if program in ('tar', 'star'):
         for enc_program in EncodingPrograms[encoding]:
-            found = find_executable(enc_program)
+            found = util.find_program(enc_program)
             if found:
                 return found
     return None
@@ -228,7 +227,7 @@ def list_formats ():
                 print "   %8s: %s" % (command, program),
                 basename = os.path.basename(program)
                 if format == 'tar':
-                    encs = [x for x in ArchiveEncodings if find_executable(x)]
+                    encs = [x for x in ArchiveEncodings if util.find_program(x)]
                     if encs:
                         print "(supported encodings: %s)" % ", ".join(encs),
                 elif format == '7z':
diff --git a/patoolib/util.py b/patoolib/util.py
index a5176e7..f3894f7 100644
--- a/patoolib/util.py
+++ b/patoolib/util.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import subprocess
 import mimetypes
 import tempfile
 import traceback
+from distutils.spawn import find_executable
 
 mimedb = mimetypes.MimeTypes(strict=False)
 # add missing encodings and mimetypes
@@ -103,3 +104,10 @@ def log_internal_error (out=sys.stderr):
 def p7zip_supports_rar ():
     """Determine if the RAR codec is installed for 7z program."""
     return os.path.exists('/usr/lib/p7zip/Codecs/Rar29.so')
+
+
+def find_program (program):
+    """Look for program in environment PATH variable."""
+    # XXX memoize result of this function
+    path = os.environ['PATH']
+    return find_executable(program, path=path)
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index 810e1fa..bb5f4b8 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import os
 import shutil
 import nose
 import patoolib
-from distutils.spawn import find_executable
 
 basedir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 datadir = os.path.join(basedir, 'data')
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ def needs_program (program):
     """Decorator skipping test if given program is not available."""
     def check_prog (f):
         def newfunc (*args, **kwargs):
-            if not find_executable(program):
+            if not patoolib.util.find_program(program):
                 raise nose.SkipTest("program `%s' not available" % program)
             return f(*args, **kwargs)
         newfunc.func_name = f.func_name
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@ def needs_codec (program, codec):
     """Decorator skipping test if given program codec is not available."""
     def check_prog (f):
         def newfunc (*args, **kwargs):
-            if not find_executable(program):
+            if not patoolib.util.find_program(program):
                 raise nose.SkipTest("program `%s' not available" % program)
             if not find_codec(program, codec):
                 raise nose.SkipTest("codec `%s' for program `%s' not available" % (codec, program))