diff --git a/vlib/os/os_c.v b/vlib/os/os_c.v
index 016fb64dec..d006096f21 100644
--- a/vlib/os/os_c.v
+++ b/vlib/os/os_c.v
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ pub fn create(path string) ?File {
 	}
 }
 
-// execvp - loads and executes a new child process, in place of the current process.
+// execvp - loads and executes a new child process, *in place* of the current process.
 // The child process executable is located in `cmdpath`.
 // The arguments, that will be passed to it are in `args`.
 // NB: this function will NOT return when successfull, since
@@ -883,6 +883,32 @@ pub fn execvp(cmdpath string, args []string) ? {
 	cargs << charptr(0)
 	res := C.execvp(charptr(cmdpath.str), cargs.data)
 	if res == -1 {
-		return error(posix_get_error_msg(C.errno))
+		return error_with_code(posix_get_error_msg(C.errno), C.errno)
+	}
+}
+
+// execve - loads and executes a new child process, *in place* of the current process.
+// The child process executable is located in `cmdpath`.
+// The arguments, that will be passed to it are in `args`.
+// You can pass environment variables to through `envs`.
+// NB: this function will NOT return when successfull, since
+// the child process will take control over execution.
+pub fn execve(cmdpath string, args []string, envs []string) ? {
+	mut cargv := []charptr{}
+	mut cenvs := []charptr{}
+	cargv << charptr(cmdpath.str)
+	for i in 0 .. args.len {
+		cargv << charptr(args[i].str)
+	}
+	for i in 0 .. envs.len {
+		cenvs << charptr(envs[i].str)
+	}
+	cargv << charptr(0)
+	cenvs << charptr(0)
+	res := C.execve(charptr(cmdpath.str), cargv.data, cenvs.data)
+	// NB: normally execve does not return at all.
+	// If it returns, then something went wrong...
+	if res == -1 {
+		return error_with_code(posix_get_error_msg(C.errno), C.errno)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/vlib/os/process_nix.c.v b/vlib/os/process_nix.c.v
index 9710f4dff6..f54e24e0e7 100644
--- a/vlib/os/process_nix.c.v
+++ b/vlib/os/process_nix.c.v
@@ -43,22 +43,10 @@ fn (mut p Process) unix_spawn_process() int {
 		fd_close(pipeset[3])
 		fd_close(pipeset[5])
 	}
-	mut cargv := []charptr{}
-	mut cenvs := []charptr{}
-	cargv << charptr(p.filename.str)
-	for i in 0 .. p.args.len {
-		cargv << charptr(p.args[i].str)
+	execve(p.filename, p.args, p.env) or {
+		eprintln(err)
+		exit(1)
 	}
-	for i in 0 .. p.env.len {
-		cenvs << charptr(p.env[i].str)
-	}
-	cargv << charptr(0)
-	cenvs << charptr(0)
-	C.execve(charptr(p.filename.str), cargv.data, cenvs.data)
-	// NB: normally execve does not return at all.
-	// If it returns, then something went wrong...
-	eprintln(posix_get_error_msg(C.errno))
-	exit(1)
 	return 0
 }
 
diff --git a/vlib/v/util/util.v b/vlib/v/util/util.v
index b034af484b..811b71585b 100644
--- a/vlib/v/util/util.v
+++ b/vlib/v/util/util.v
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ pub fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tool_name string, args []string) {
 	if is_verbose {
 		println('launch_tool running tool command: $tool_command ...')
 	}
-	exit(os.system(tool_command))
+	os.execvp(tool_exe, args)
 }
 
 // NB: should_recompile_tool/2 compares unix timestamps that have 1 second resolution