diff --git a/src/os/env.zig b/src/os/env.zig
index b9ebcc9c8..b40d2fef1 100644
--- a/src/os/env.zig
+++ b/src/os/env.zig
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ pub fn appendEnv(
 }
 
 /// Always append value to environment, even when it is empty.
+/// This is useful because some env vars (like MANPATH) want there
+/// to be an empty prefix to preserve existing values.
+///
 /// The returned value is always allocated so it must be freed.
 pub fn appendEnvAlways(
     alloc: Allocator,
diff --git a/src/termio/Exec.zig b/src/termio/Exec.zig
index 69c139563..ac6bff7b7 100644
--- a/src/termio/Exec.zig
+++ b/src/termio/Exec.zig
@@ -648,13 +648,16 @@ const Subprocess = struct {
                     break :man;
                 };
 
-                const manpath = env.get("MANPATH") orelse "";
                 // Always append with colon in front, as it mean that if
                 // `MANPATH` is empty, then it should be treated as an extra
                 // path instead of overriding all paths set by OS.
                 try env.put(
                     "MANPATH",
-                    try internal_os.appendEnvAlways(alloc, manpath, dir),
+                    try internal_os.appendEnvAlways(
+                        alloc,
+                        env.get("MATHPATH") orelse "",
+                        dir,
+                    ),
                 );
             }
         }