diff --git a/packages/utils/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/utils/CHANGELOG.md
index 0d1dce4917..1c0e029a16 100644
--- a/packages/utils/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/utils/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- macOS executable discovery now honors explicit `PATH` and `cwd` lookup overrides instead of silently searching the process environment.
+
 ## [0.12.7] - 2026-07-31
 
 ## [0.12.6] - 2026-07-31
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/which.ts b/packages/utils/src/which.ts
index e1facff596..160e0f2ce9 100644
--- a/packages/utils/src/which.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/src/which.ts
@@ -183,9 +183,10 @@ export interface WhichOptions extends Bun.WhichOptions {
 
 // Darwin-specific "which" shim: consult Xcode/CLT toolchain directories after $PATH.
 // Uses cached directory listings instead of per-command existsSync or xcrun subprocesses.
-function darwinWhich(command: string, _options?: Bun.WhichOptions): string | null {
-	const regular = Bun.which(command);
+function darwinWhich(command: string, options?: Bun.WhichOptions): string | null {
+	const regular = Bun.which(command, options);
 	if (regular) return regular;
+	if (options?.PATH !== undefined) return null;
 	if (isXcodeBin(command)) {
 		return getMacosToolPaths().get(command) ?? null;
 	}
@@ -198,10 +199,10 @@ export const whichFresh = os.platform() === "darwin" ? darwinWhich : Bun.which;
 // Derive stable cache key from command and lookup options
 function cacheKey(command: string, options?: Bun.WhichOptions): CacheKey {
 	if (!options) return command;
-	if (!options.cwd && !options.PATH) return command;
+	if (options.cwd === undefined && options.PATH === undefined) return command;
 	let h = Bun.hash(command);
-	if (options.cwd) h = Bun.hash(options.cwd, h);
-	if (options.PATH) h = Bun.hash(options.PATH, h);
+	if (options.cwd !== undefined) h = Bun.hash(`cwd:${options.cwd}`, h);
+	if (options.PATH !== undefined) h = Bun.hash(`PATH:${options.PATH}`, h);
 	return h;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/utils/test/which.test.ts b/packages/utils/test/which.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2730812a47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/test/which.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "bun:test";
+import * as fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import * as path from "node:path";
+import { TempDir } from "../src/temp";
+import { $which, WhichCachePolicy } from "../src/which";
+
+describe.skipIf(process.platform === "win32")("$which lookup options", () => {
+	it("honors explicit PATH and cwd overrides without cache collisions", async () => {
+		const tempDir = await TempDir.create();
+		try {
+			const command = "gjc-which-option-test";
+			const executable = tempDir.join(command);
+			await Bun.write(executable, "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n");
+			await fs.chmod(executable, 0o755);
+
+			expect($which(command, { PATH: tempDir.path(), cache: WhichCachePolicy.Fresh })).toBe(executable);
+			expect($which(command, { PATH: "", cwd: tempDir.path(), cache: WhichCachePolicy.Cached })).toBeNull();
+			expect(
+				$which(`.${path.sep}${command}`, {
+					PATH: "",
+					cwd: tempDir.path(),
+					cache: WhichCachePolicy.Bypass,
+				}),
+			).toBe(executable);
+			expect($which("clang", { PATH: tempDir.path(), cache: WhichCachePolicy.Bypass })).toBeNull();
+		} finally {
+			await tempDir.remove();
+		}
+	});
+});