diff --git a/tests/tools/test_docker_environment.py b/tests/tools/test_docker_environment.py
index 1595797854..ead655285f 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_docker_environment.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_docker_environment.py
@@ -23,22 +23,22 @@ def _make_dummy_env(**kwargs):
 
 
 def test_ensure_docker_available_logs_and_raises_when_not_found(monkeypatch, caplog):
-    """When docker is missing from PATH, we should raise a clear error and log it."""
+    """When docker cannot be found, raise a clear error before mini-swe setup."""
 
-    def _raise_not_found(*args, **kwargs):
-        raise FileNotFoundError("docker not found")
-
-    monkeypatch.setattr(docker_env, "subprocess", docker_env.subprocess)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(docker_env.subprocess, "run", _raise_not_found)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(docker_env, "find_docker", lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        docker_env.subprocess,
+        "run",
+        lambda *args, **kwargs: pytest.fail("subprocess.run should not be called when docker is missing"),
+    )
 
     with caplog.at_level(logging.ERROR):
         with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo:
             _make_dummy_env()
 
-    # Error message should mention that docker is not in PATH
-    assert "Docker executable not found in PATH" in str(excinfo.value)
+    assert "Docker executable not found in PATH or known install locations" in str(excinfo.value)
     assert any(
-        "Docker backend selected but 'docker' executable was not found in PATH"
+        "no docker executable was found in PATH or known install locations"
         in record.getMessage()
         for record in caplog.records
     )
@@ -48,8 +48,9 @@ def test_ensure_docker_available_logs_and_raises_on_timeout(monkeypatch, caplog)
     """When docker version times out, surface a helpful error instead of hanging."""
 
     def _raise_timeout(*args, **kwargs):
-        raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd=["docker", "version"], timeout=5)
+        raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd=["/custom/docker", "version"], timeout=5)
 
+    monkeypatch.setattr(docker_env, "find_docker", lambda: "/custom/docker")
     monkeypatch.setattr(docker_env.subprocess, "run", _raise_timeout)
 
     with caplog.at_level(logging.ERROR):
@@ -58,7 +59,30 @@ def test_ensure_docker_available_logs_and_raises_on_timeout(monkeypatch, caplog)
 
     assert "Docker daemon is not responding" in str(excinfo.value)
     assert any(
-        "docker version' timed out" in record.getMessage()
+        "/custom/docker version' timed out" in record.getMessage()
         for record in caplog.records
     )
 
+
+def test_ensure_docker_available_uses_resolved_executable(monkeypatch):
+    """When docker is found outside PATH, preflight should use that resolved path."""
+
+    calls = []
+
+    def _run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        calls.append((cmd, kwargs))
+        return subprocess.CompletedProcess(cmd, 0, stdout="Docker version", stderr="")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(docker_env, "find_docker", lambda: "/opt/homebrew/bin/docker")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(docker_env.subprocess, "run", _run)
+
+    docker_env._ensure_docker_available()
+
+    assert calls == [
+        (["/opt/homebrew/bin/docker", "version"], {
+            "capture_output": True,
+            "text": True,
+            "timeout": 5,
+        })
+    ]
+
diff --git a/tools/environments/docker.py b/tools/environments/docker.py
index 3b72fef02d..c04eff8d09 100644
--- a/tools/environments/docker.py
+++ b/tools/environments/docker.py
@@ -85,31 +85,43 @@ _storage_opt_ok: Optional[bool] = None  # cached result across instances
 def _ensure_docker_available() -> None:
     """Best-effort check that the docker CLI is available before use.
 
-    This mirrors the gateway's behaviour of surfacing a clear, actionable
-    error when Docker is not installed or not in PATH, instead of failing
-    later with a low-level FileNotFoundError.
+    Reuses ``find_docker()`` so this preflight stays consistent with the rest of
+    the Docker backend, including known non-PATH Docker Desktop locations.
     """
+    docker_exe = find_docker()
+    if not docker_exe:
+        logger.error(
+            "Docker backend selected but no docker executable was found in PATH "
+            "or known install locations. Install Docker Desktop and ensure the "
+            "CLI is available."
+        )
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "Docker executable not found in PATH or known install locations. "
+            "Install Docker and ensure the 'docker' command is available."
+        )
+
     try:
         result = subprocess.run(
-            ["docker", "version"],
+            [docker_exe, "version"],
             capture_output=True,
             text=True,
             timeout=5,
         )
     except FileNotFoundError:
         logger.error(
-            "Docker backend selected but 'docker' executable was not found in PATH. "
-            "Install Docker Desktop and ensure 'docker' is available on the command line.",
+            "Docker backend selected but the resolved docker executable '%s' could "
+            "not be executed.",
+            docker_exe,
             exc_info=True,
         )
         raise RuntimeError(
-            "Docker executable not found in PATH. Install Docker and ensure "
-            "the 'docker' command is available."
+            "Docker executable could not be executed. Check your Docker installation."
         )
     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
         logger.error(
-            "Docker backend selected but 'docker version' timed out. "
+            "Docker backend selected but '%s version' timed out. "
             "The Docker daemon may not be running.",
+            docker_exe,
             exc_info=True,
         )
         raise RuntimeError(
@@ -124,8 +136,9 @@ def _ensure_docker_available() -> None:
     else:
         if result.returncode != 0:
             logger.error(
-                "Docker backend selected but 'docker version' failed "
+                "Docker backend selected but '%s version' failed "
                 "(exit code %d, stderr=%s)",
+                docker_exe,
                 result.returncode,
                 result.stderr.strip(),
             )