diff --git a/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v b/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v
index fd6ffb9b4c..72116a1eee 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/modules/testing/common.v
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	filepath
 	runtime
 	sync
+	v.pref
 )
 
 pub struct TestSession {
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ pub mut:
 	vargs     string
 	failed    bool
 	benchmark benchmark.Benchmark
-	
+
 	ntask     int // writing to this should be locked by mu.
 	ntask_mtx &sync.Mutex
 	waitgroup &sync.WaitGroup
@@ -25,25 +26,17 @@ pub mut:
 
 pub fn new_test_session(vargs string) TestSession {
 	return TestSession{
-		vexe: vexe_path()
+		vexe: pref.vexe_path()
 		vargs: vargs
-		
+
 		ntask: 0
 		ntask_mtx: sync.new_mutex()
 		waitgroup: sync.new_waitgroup()
-		
+
 		show_ok_tests: !vargs.contains('-silent')
 	}
 }
 
-pub fn vexe_path() string {
-	// NB: tools extracted from v require that the VEXE
-	// environment variable contains the path to the v executable location.
-	// They are usually launched by cmd/v/simple_tool.v,
-	// launch_tool/1 , which provides it.
-	return os.getenv('VEXE')
-}
-
 pub fn (ts mut TestSession) init() {
 	ts.benchmark = benchmark.new_benchmark()
 }
@@ -76,7 +69,7 @@ pub fn (ts mut TestSession) test() {
 		}
 		remaining_files << dot_relative_file
 	}
-	
+
 	ts.files = remaining_files
 	ts.benchmark.set_total_expected_steps(remaining_files.len)
 
@@ -107,7 +100,7 @@ fn process_in_thread(ts mut TestSession){
 fn (ts mut TestSession) process_files() {
 	tmpd := os.tmpdir()
 	show_stats := '-stats' in ts.vargs.split(' ')
-	
+
 	mut tls_bench := benchmark.new_benchmark() // tls_bench is used to format the step messages/timings
 	tls_bench.set_total_expected_steps( ts.benchmark.nexpected_steps )
 	for {
@@ -116,11 +109,11 @@ fn (ts mut TestSession) process_files() {
 		ts.ntask++
 		idx := ts.ntask-1
 		ts.ntask_mtx.unlock()
-		
+
 		if idx >= ts.files.len { break }
 		tls_bench.cstep = idx
-		
-		dot_relative_file := ts.files[ idx ]			
+
+		dot_relative_file := ts.files[ idx ]
 		relative_file := dot_relative_file.replace('./', '')
 		file := os.realpath(relative_file)
 		// Ensure that the generated binaries will be stored in the temporary folder.
@@ -192,7 +185,7 @@ pub fn vlib_should_be_present(parent_dir string) {
 pub fn v_build_failing(zargs string, folder string) bool {
 	main_label := 'Building $folder ...'
 	finish_label := 'building $folder'
-	vexe := vexe_path()
+	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	parent_dir := filepath.dir(vexe)
 	vlib_should_be_present(parent_dir)
 	vargs := zargs.replace(vexe, '')
@@ -233,7 +226,7 @@ pub fn build_v_cmd_failed(cmd string) bool {
 pub fn building_any_v_binaries_failed() bool {
 	eheader('Building V binaries...')
 	eprintln('VFLAGS is: "' + os.getenv('VFLAGS') + '"')
-	vexe := testing.vexe_path()
+	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	parent_dir := filepath.dir(vexe)
 	testing.vlib_should_be_present(parent_dir)
 	os.chdir(parent_dir)
diff --git a/cmd/tools/vtest-compiler.v b/cmd/tools/vtest-compiler.v
index 6fc64590ca..8dc22d2002 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/vtest-compiler.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/vtest-compiler.v
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	testing
 	benchmark
 	filepath
+	v.pref
 )
 
 pub const (
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ fn main() {
 }
 
 fn v_test_compiler(vargs string) {
-	vexe := testing.vexe_path()
+	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	parent_dir := filepath.dir(vexe)
 	testing.vlib_should_be_present(parent_dir)
 	// Changing the current directory is needed for some of the compiler tests,
diff --git a/cmd/v/compile_options.v b/cmd/v/compile_options.v
index 69e5c78391..d94ded7f73 100644
--- a/cmd/v/compile_options.v
+++ b/cmd/v/compile_options.v
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pub fn new_v(args []string) &compiler.V {
 			panic(err)
 		}
 	}
-	vroot := filepath.dir(vexe_path())
+	vroot := filepath.dir(pref.vexe_path())
 	// optional, custom modules search path
 	user_mod_path := cmdline.option(args, '-user_mod_path', '')
 	vlib_path := cmdline.option(args, '-vlib-path', '')
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ pub fn new_v(args []string) &compiler.V {
 	}
 	is_repl := '-repl' in args
 	ccompiler := cmdline.option(args, '-cc', '')
-	mut pref := &pref.Preferences{
+	mut prefs := &pref.Preferences{
 		os: pref.os_from_string(target_os)
 		is_so: '-shared' in args
 		is_solive: '-solive' in args
@@ -155,20 +155,20 @@ pub fn new_v(args []string) &compiler.V {
 		compile_defines_all: compile_defines_all
 		mod: mod
 	}
-	if pref.is_verbose || pref.is_debug {
-		println('C compiler=$pref.ccompiler')
+	if prefs.is_verbose || prefs.is_debug {
+		println('C compiler=$prefs.ccompiler')
 	}
 	$if !linux {
-		if pref.is_bare && !out_name.ends_with('.c') {
+		if prefs.is_bare && !out_name.ends_with('.c') {
 			println('V error: -freestanding only works on Linux for now')
 			os.flush_stdout()
 			exit(1)
 		}
 	}
-	pref.fill_with_defaults()
+	prefs.fill_with_defaults()
 
 	// v.exe's parent directory should contain vlib
-	if !os.is_dir(pref.vlib_path) || !os.is_dir(pref.vlib_path + filepath.separator + 'builtin') {
+	if !os.is_dir(prefs.vlib_path) || !os.is_dir(prefs.vlib_path + filepath.separator + 'builtin') {
 		// println('vlib not found, downloading it...')
 		/*
 		ret := os.system('git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/vlang/v .')
@@ -180,16 +180,16 @@ pub fn new_v(args []string) &compiler.V {
 		*/
 		println('vlib not found. It should be next to the V executable.')
 		println('Go to https://vlang.io to install V.')
-		println('(os.executable=${os.executable()} vlib_path=$pref.vlib_path vexe_path=${vexe_path()}')
+		println('(os.executable=${os.executable()} vlib_path=$prefs.vlib_path vexe_path=${pref.vexe_path()}')
 		exit(1)
 	}
 
-	if pref.is_script && !os.exists(dir) {
+	if prefs.is_script && !os.exists(dir) {
 		println('`$dir` does not exist')
 		exit(1)
 	}
 
-	return compiler.new_v(pref)
+	return compiler.new_v(prefs)
 }
 
 fn find_c_compiler_thirdparty_options(args []string) string {
diff --git a/cmd/v/flag.v b/cmd/v/flag.v
index 9427b99b25..4f1f308fd4 100644
--- a/cmd/v/flag.v
+++ b/cmd/v/flag.v
@@ -66,13 +66,3 @@ fn join_flags_and_argument() []string {
 
 	return non_empty(os.args)
 }
-
-fn vexe_path() string {
-	vexe := os.getenv('VEXE')
-	if vexe != '' {
-		return vexe
-	}
-	real_vexe_path := os.realpath(os.executable())
-	os.setenv('VEXE', real_vexe_path, true)
-	return real_vexe_path
-}
diff --git a/cmd/v/simple_tool.v b/cmd/v/simple_tool.v
index d39d6b47cb..e69e463d7a 100644
--- a/cmd/v/simple_tool.v
+++ b/cmd/v/simple_tool.v
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@ import (
 	compiler
 	filepath
 	os
+	v.pref
 )
 
 fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tname string, cmdname string) {
-	vexe := vexe_path()
+	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	vroot := filepath.dir(vexe)
 	compiler.set_vroot_folder(vroot)
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tname string, cmdname string) {
 		compilation_args := compilation_options.join(' ')
 		compilation_command := '"$vexe" $compilation_args "$tool_source"'
 		if is_verbose {
-			eprintln('Compiling $tname with: "$compilation_command"') 
+			eprintln('Compiling $tname with: "$compilation_command"')
 		}
 		tool_compilation := os.exec(compilation_command) or { panic(err) }
 		if tool_compilation.exit_code != 0 {
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tname string, cmdname string) {
 	if is_verbose {
 		eprintln('launch_tool running tool command: $tool_command ...')
 	}
-	
+
 	exit(os.system(tool_command))
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/v/symlink.v b/cmd/v/symlink.v
index f35cc39d2b..d36333c87b 100644
--- a/cmd/v/symlink.v
+++ b/cmd/v/symlink.v
@@ -3,13 +3,16 @@
 // that can be found in the LICENSE file.
 module main
 
-import os
+import (
+	os
+	v.pref
+)
 
 fn create_symlink() {
 	$if windows {
 		return
 	}
-	vexe := vexe_path()
+	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	mut link_path := '/usr/local/bin/v'
 	mut ret := os.exec('ln -sf $vexe $link_path') or { panic(err) }
 	if ret.exit_code == 0 {
@@ -28,4 +31,3 @@ fn create_symlink() {
 			println('Failed to create symlink "$link_path". Try again with sudo.')
 	}
 }
-
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/cc.v b/vlib/compiler/cc.v
index db3194f57c..8e42ee53df 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/cc.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/cc.v
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ fn (v mut V) cc() {
 		return
 	}
 	v.build_thirdparty_obj_files()
-	vexe := vexe_path()
+	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	vdir := filepath.dir(vexe)
 	// Just create a C/JavaScript file and exit
 	// for example: `v -o v.c compiler`
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/main.v b/vlib/compiler/main.v
index c947bb69c3..d5b17e8c01 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/main.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/main.v
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ pub fn (v &V) get_user_files() []string {
 	mut user_files := []string
 
     // See cmd/tools/preludes/README.md for more info about what preludes are
-	vroot := filepath.dir(vexe_path())
+	vroot := filepath.dir(pref.vexe_path())
 	preludes_path := filepath.join(vroot,'cmd','tools','preludes')
 	if v.pref.is_live {
 		user_files << filepath.join(preludes_path,'live_main.v')
@@ -844,16 +844,6 @@ pub fn (v &V) log(s string) {
 	println(s)
 }
 
-pub fn vexe_path() string {
-	vexe := os.getenv('VEXE')
-	if '' != vexe {
-		return vexe
-	}
-	real_vexe_path := os.realpath(os.executable())
-	os.setenv('VEXE', real_vexe_path, true)
-	return real_vexe_path
-}
-
 pub fn verror(s string) {
 	println('V error: $s')
 	os.flush_stdout()
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/module_header.v b/vlib/compiler/module_header.v
index 24bda0faa1..44c96e2a42 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/module_header.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/module_header.v
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ mut:
 // `mod` == "vlib/os"
 fn generate_vh(mod string) {
 	println('\n\n\n\nGenerating a V header file for module `$mod`')
-	vexe := vexe_path()
+	vexe := pref.vexe_path()
 	full_mod_path := filepath.join(filepath.dir(vexe),mod)
 	dir := if mod.starts_with('vlib') { '$compiler.v_modules_path${filepath.separator}$mod' } else { mod }
 	path := dir + '.vh'
diff --git a/vlib/v/doc/doc.v b/vlib/v/doc/doc.v
index 025c23138d..55d1b85066 100644
--- a/vlib/v/doc/doc.v
+++ b/vlib/v/doc/doc.v
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module doc
 import (
 	strings
 	// v.builder
-	// v.pref
+	v.pref
 	v.table
 	v.parser
 	v.ast
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub fn doc(mod string, table &table.Table) string {
 		table: table
 		mod: mod
 	}
-	mods_path := filepath.dir(vexe_path()) + '/vlib'
+	mods_path := filepath.dir(pref.vexe_path()) + '/vlib'
 	path := filepath.join(mods_path,mod).replace('.', filepath.separator)
 	if !os.exists(path) {
 		println('module "$mod" not found')
@@ -92,13 +92,3 @@ fn (d mut Doc) print_methods() {
 	}
 	}
 }
-
-pub fn vexe_path() string {
-	vexe := os.getenv('VEXE')
-	if '' != vexe {
-		return vexe
-	}
-	real_vexe_path := os.realpath(os.executable())
-	os.setenv('VEXE', real_vexe_path, true)
-	return real_vexe_path
-}
diff --git a/vlib/v/pref/default.v b/vlib/v/pref/default.v
index c56ffd159c..ff648079b2 100644
--- a/vlib/v/pref/default.v
+++ b/vlib/v/pref/default.v
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ fn default_c_compiler() string {
 	return 'cc'
 }
 
-//TODO Remove code duplication
-fn vexe_path() string {
+pub fn vexe_path() string {
 	vexe := os.getenv('VEXE')
 	if vexe != '' {
 		return vexe