diff --git a/cmd/toolsrv/internal/exec/exec.go b/cmd/toolsrv/internal/exec/exec.go
index f8b6eee..cd465f7 100644
--- a/cmd/toolsrv/internal/exec/exec.go
+++ b/cmd/toolsrv/internal/exec/exec.go
@@ -143,6 +143,14 @@ func executeSandboxed(ctx context.Context, toolPath, stdinData, cwd string, envE
 	for k, v := range envExtra {
 		envMap[k] = v
 	}
+	// Prepend tools directory to PATH so meta-only cmd fields can reference other tools
+	if toolsDir := toolsrv.ToolsPath(); toolsDir != "" {
+		if existing := envMap["PATH"]; existing != "" {
+			envMap["PATH"] = toolsDir + ":" + existing
+		} else {
+			envMap["PATH"] = toolsDir
+		}
+	}
 	// Compute NAMESPACE if not set
 	if _, ok := envMap["NAMESPACE"]; !ok {
 		if ns := Plan9Namespace(envMap); ns != "" {
diff --git a/toolsrv/meta.go b/toolsrv/meta.go
index e6584d7..e4a2735 100644
--- a/toolsrv/meta.go
+++ b/toolsrv/meta.go
@@ -187,10 +187,10 @@ func ToolInfoFromMeta(name string, m *MetaFile) ToolInfo {
 	}
 }
 
-// ResolveTool returns the executable path for a named tool.
+// ResolveTool returns the command string for a named tool.
 // Resolution order:
-//  1. ~/.config/ollie/tools/<name> (local wrapper wins over system binary)
-//  2. .meta "cmd" field (after variant resolution; absolute path or bare name via $PATH)
+//  1. ~/.config/ollie/tools/<name> (local script/binary)
+//  2. .meta "cmd" field (returned as-is; it's a shell command string)
 //  3. exec.LookPath(<name>) as final fallback
 func ResolveTool(name string) (string, error) {
 	// Local tools path always wins — allows wrappers to shadow system binaries.
@@ -199,22 +199,11 @@ func ResolveTool(name string) (string, error) {
 		return local, nil
 	}
 
-	// Check .meta cmd field (after variant resolution).
+	// Check .meta cmd field — return as-is (shell command string, not a path to resolve).
 	if m, err := LoadMetaFile(name); err == nil && m != nil {
 		resolved := m.Resolve()
 		if resolved != nil && resolved.Cmd != "" {
-			// Check tools path for the cmd name first
-			cmdLocal := filepath.Join(ToolsPath(), resolved.Cmd)
-			if info, err := os.Stat(cmdLocal); err == nil && !info.IsDir() {
-				return cmdLocal, nil
-			}
-			if filepath.IsAbs(resolved.Cmd) {
-				return resolved.Cmd, nil
-			}
-			if p, err := exec.LookPath(resolved.Cmd); err == nil {
-				return p, nil
-			}
-			return "", fmt.Errorf("tool %s: cmd %q not found in PATH", name, resolved.Cmd)
+			return resolved.Cmd, nil
 		}
 	}