diff --git a/libexec/rbenv-exec b/libexec/rbenv-exec
index 92ecb72b..5c1aacd8 100755
--- a/libexec/rbenv-exec
+++ b/libexec/rbenv-exec
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ if [ "$1" = "--complete" ]; then
   exec rbenv shims --short
 fi
 
+export RBENV_VERSION="$(rbenv-version-name)"
 RBENV_COMMAND="$1"
+
 if [ -z "$RBENV_COMMAND" ]; then
   echo "usage: rbenv exec COMMAND [arg1 arg2...]" >&2
   exit 1
@@ -21,5 +23,7 @@ for script in $(rbenv-hooks exec); do
 done
 
 shift 1
-export PATH="${RBENV_BIN_PATH}:${PATH}"
+if [ "$RBENV_VERSION" != "system" ]; then
+  export PATH="${RBENV_BIN_PATH}:${PATH}"
+fi
 exec -a "$RBENV_COMMAND" "$RBENV_COMMAND_PATH" "$@"