diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index ffda0dae2..027ce6a47 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from .conf.utils import to_cmdline
 from .config import initial_window_size_func, prepare_config_file_for_editing
 from .config_data import MINIMUM_FONT_SIZE
 from .constants import (
-    appname, config_dir, set_boss, supports_primary_selection
+    appname, config_dir, kitty_exe, set_boss, supports_primary_selection
 )
 from .fast_data_types import (
     ChildMonitor, background_opacity_of, change_background_opacity,
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ class Boss:
         confpath = prepare_config_file_for_editing()
         # On macOS vim fails to handle SIGWINCH if it occurs early, so add a
         # small delay.
-        cmd = ['kitty', '+runpy', 'import os, sys, time; time.sleep(0.05); os.execvp(sys.argv[1], sys.argv[1:])'] + get_editor() + [confpath]
+        cmd = [kitty_exe(), '+runpy', 'import os, sys, time; time.sleep(0.05); os.execvp(sys.argv[1], sys.argv[1:])'] + get_editor() + [confpath]
         self.new_os_window(*cmd)
 
     def get_output(self, source_window, num_lines=1):
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ class Boss:
             copts = {k: self.opts[k] for k in ('select_by_word_characters', 'open_url_with')}
             overlay_window = tab.new_special_window(
                 SpecialWindow(
-                    ['kitty', '+runpy', 'from kittens.runner import main; main()'] + args,
+                    [kitty_exe(), '+runpy', 'from kittens.runner import main; main()'] + args,
                     stdin=data,
                     env={
                         'KITTY_COMMON_OPTS': json.dumps(copts),
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ class Boss:
                     break
 
     def kitty_shell(self, window_type):
-        cmd = ['kitty', '@']
+        cmd = [kitty_exe(), '@']
         if window_type == 'tab':
             window = self._new_tab(cmd).active_window
         elif window_type == 'os_window':
diff --git a/kitty/constants.py b/kitty/constants.py
index 587e78dee..e35ef11bd 100644
--- a/kitty/constants.py
+++ b/kitty/constants.py
@@ -21,6 +21,22 @@ ScreenGeometry = namedtuple('ScreenGeometry', 'xstart ystart xnum ynum dx dy')
 WindowGeometry = namedtuple('WindowGeometry', 'left top right bottom xnum ynum')
 
 
+def kitty_exe():
+    ans = getattr(kitty_exe, 'ans', None)
+    if ans is None:
+        rpath = getattr(sys, 'bundle_exe_dir', None)
+        items = frozenset(os.environ['PATH'].split(os.pathsep))
+        if not rpath:
+            for candidate in items:
+                if os.access(os.path.join(candidate, 'kitty'), os.X_OK):
+                    rpath = candidate
+                    break
+            else:
+                rpath = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), 'launcher')
+        ans = kitty_exe.ans = os.path.join(rpath, 'kitty')
+    return ans
+
+
 def _get_config_dir():
     if 'KITTY_CONFIG_DIRECTORY' in os.environ:
         return os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(os.environ['KITTY_CONFIG_DIRECTORY']))
diff --git a/kitty/main.py b/kitty/main.py
index a3eb6a2a9..5fe738ab9 100644
--- a/kitty/main.py
+++ b/kitty/main.py
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ from .boss import Boss
 from .cli import create_opts, parse_args
 from .config import cached_values_for, initial_window_size_func
 from .constants import (
-    appname, config_dir, glfw_path, is_macos, is_wayland, logo_data_file
+    appname, config_dir, glfw_path, is_macos, is_wayland, kitty_exe,
+    logo_data_file
 )
 from .fast_data_types import (
     GLFW_MOD_SUPER, create_os_window, free_font_data, glfw_init,
@@ -199,14 +200,8 @@ def _main():
             print('Failed to set locale with no LANG, ignoring', file=sys.stderr)
 
     # Ensure kitty is in PATH
-    rpath = getattr(sys, 'bundle_exe_dir', None)
+    rpath = os.path.dirname(kitty_exe())
     items = frozenset(os.environ['PATH'].split(os.pathsep))
-    if not rpath:
-        for candidate in items:
-            if os.access(os.path.join(candidate, 'kitty'), os.X_OK):
-                break
-        else:
-            rpath = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), 'launcher')
     if rpath and rpath not in items:
         os.environ['PATH'] += os.pathsep + rpath
 
diff --git a/kitty/session.py b/kitty/session.py
index f0ae2cb03..84a442e66 100644
--- a/kitty/session.py
+++ b/kitty/session.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import shlex
 
 from .config_data import to_layout_names
-from .constants import shell_path
+from .constants import shell_path, kitty_exe
 from .layout import all_layouts
 from .utils import log_error
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def create_session(opts, args=None, special_window=None, cwd_from=None, respect_
     if special_window is None:
         cmd = args.args if args and args.args else resolved_shell(opts)
         if args.hold:
-            cmd = ['kitty', '+hold'] + cmd
+            cmd = [kitty_exe(), '+hold'] + cmd
         from kitty.tabs import SpecialWindow
         k = {'cwd_from': cwd_from}
         if respect_cwd: