diff --git a/euri_mklive/distros/alpine.py b/euri_mklive/distros/alpine.py
index 114905a..647947f 100644
--- a/euri_mklive/distros/alpine.py
+++ b/euri_mklive/distros/alpine.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class Alpine(Distro):
     def install_packages(self, rootfs: Path, packages: list[str]) -> None:
         if not packages:
             return
-        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool("apk"), "add", *packages])
+        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool_chroot("apk"), "add", *packages])
 
     def configure_base(self, rootfs: Path, config: dict) -> None:
         hostname = config.get("hostname", "euri")
diff --git a/euri_mklive/distros/arch.py b/euri_mklive/distros/arch.py
index 401a67b..f19b242 100644
--- a/euri_mklive/distros/arch.py
+++ b/euri_mklive/distros/arch.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class Arch(Distro):
         self._run(cmd)
 
     def install_packages(self, rootfs: Path, packages: list[str]) -> None:
-        pm = self._tool("pacman")
+        pm = self._tool_chroot("pacman")
         self._run_chroot(rootfs, [pm, "-Syu", "--noconfirm", *packages])
 
     def configure_base(self, rootfs: Path, config: dict) -> None:
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Arch(Distro):
 
     def install_bootloader(self, rootfs: Path, config: dict) -> None:
         init = config.get("init", "dinit")
-        pm = self._tool("pacman")
+        pm = self._tool_chroot("pacman")
         self._run_chroot(rootfs, [pm, "-S", "--noconfirm", "grub", "efibootmgr", "os-prober"])
         self._run_chroot(rootfs, ["grub-install", "--target=i386-pc", "/dev/sda"])
         self._run_chroot(rootfs, ["grub-install", "--target=x86_64-efi", "--efi-directory=/boot/efi", "--bootloader-id=grub"])
diff --git a/euri_mklive/distros/base.py b/euri_mklive/distros/base.py
index aa5f1d2..72d496b 100644
--- a/euri_mklive/distros/base.py
+++ b/euri_mklive/distros/base.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ class Distro(ABC):
             return path
         return name
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _tool_chroot(name: str) -> str:
+        """Return bare command name for use inside chroot (system PATH)."""
+        return name
+
     @staticmethod
     def _run(cmd: list[str], **kw) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
         import os
diff --git a/euri_mklive/distros/fedora.py b/euri_mklive/distros/fedora.py
index 03e47cd..77a9744 100644
--- a/euri_mklive/distros/fedora.py
+++ b/euri_mklive/distros/fedora.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class Fedora(Distro):
     def install_packages(self, rootfs: Path, packages: list[str]) -> None:
         if not packages:
             return
-        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool("dnf5"), "-y", "install", *packages])
+        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool_chroot("dnf5"), "-y", "install", *packages])
 
     def configure_base(self, rootfs: Path, config: dict) -> None:
         hostname = config.get("hostname", "euri")
diff --git a/euri_mklive/distros/void.py b/euri_mklive/distros/void.py
index d8b80d9..afe5f03 100644
--- a/euri_mklive/distros/void.py
+++ b/euri_mklive/distros/void.py
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ class Void(Distro):
 
         # remove runit if we're using dinit
         if init == "dinit":
-            self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool("xbps-remove"), "-y", "runit"])
+            self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool_chroot("xbps-remove"), "-y", "runit"])
 
     def install_packages(self, rootfs: Path, packages: list[str]) -> None:
         if not packages:
             return
-        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool("xbps-install"), "-Sy", *packages])
+        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool_chroot("xbps-install"), "-Sy", *packages])
 
     def configure_base(self, rootfs: Path, config: dict) -> None:
         hostname = config.get("hostname", "euri")
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class Void(Distro):
     def install_bootloader(self, rootfs: Path, config: dict) -> None:
         libc = config.get("libc", "musl")
         pkgs = ["grub", "grub-x86_64-efi", "efibootmgr"]
-        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool("xbps-install"), "-Sy", *pkgs])
+        self._run_chroot(rootfs, [self._tool_chroot("xbps-install"), "-Sy", *pkgs])
         self._run_chroot(rootfs, ["grub-install", "--target=i386-pc", "/dev/sda"])
         self._run_chroot(rootfs, ["grub-install", "--target=x86_64-efi", "--efi-directory=/boot/efi", "--bootloader-id=Void"])
         self._run_chroot(rootfs, ["grub-mkconfig", "-o", "/boot/grub/grub.cfg"])