diff --git a/Lib/distutils/spawn.py b/Lib/distutils/spawn.py
index 5dd415a..5387688 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/spawn.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/spawn.py
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
     os.environ['PATH'].  Returns the complete filename or None if not found.
     """
     if path is None:
-        path = os.environ['PATH']
+        path = os.environ.get('PATH', os.defpath)
 
     paths = path.split(os.pathsep)
     base, ext = os.path.splitext(executable)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_spawn.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_spawn.py
index 5edc24a..0d45538 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_spawn.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_spawn.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 """Tests for distutils.spawn."""
-import unittest
-import sys
 import os
+import stat
+import sys
+import unittest
+from unittest import mock
 from test.support import run_unittest, unix_shell
+from test import support as test_support
 
+from distutils.spawn import find_executable
 from distutils.spawn import _nt_quote_args
 from distutils.spawn import spawn
 from distutils.errors import DistutilsExecError
@@ -51,6 +55,47 @@
         os.chmod(exe, 0o777)
         spawn([exe])  # should work without any error
 
+    def test_find_executable(self):
+        with test_support.temp_dir() as tmp_dir:
+            # use TESTFN to get a pseudo-unique filename
+            program_noeext = test_support.TESTFN
+            # Give the temporary program an ".exe" suffix for all.
+            # It's needed on Windows and not harmful on other platforms.
+            program = program_noeext + ".exe"
+
+            filename = os.path.join(tmp_dir, program)
+            with open(filename, "wb"):
+                pass
+            os.chmod(filename, stat.S_IXUSR)
+
+            # test path parameter
+            rv = find_executable(program, path=tmp_dir)
+            self.assertEqual(rv, filename)
+
+            if sys.platform == 'win32':
+                # test without ".exe" extension
+                rv = find_executable(program_noeext, path=tmp_dir)
+                self.assertEqual(rv, filename)
+
+            # test find in the current directory
+            with test_support.change_cwd(tmp_dir):
+                rv = find_executable(program)
+                self.assertEqual(rv, program)
+
+            # test non-existent program
+            dont_exist_program = "dontexist_" + program
+            rv = find_executable(dont_exist_program , path=tmp_dir)
+            self.assertIsNone(rv)
+
+            # test os.defpath: missing PATH environment variable
+            with test_support.EnvironmentVarGuard() as env:
+                with mock.patch('distutils.spawn.os.defpath', tmp_dir):
+                    env.pop('PATH')
+
+                    rv = find_executable(program)
+                    self.assertEqual(rv, filename)
+
+
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(SpawnTestCase)
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2018-09-03-23-23-32.bpo-34530.h_Xsu7.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2018-09-03-23-23-32.bpo-34530.h_Xsu7.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..064de73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2018-09-03-23-23-32.bpo-34530.h_Xsu7.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+``distutils.spawn.find_executable()`` now falls back on :data:`os.defpath`
+if the ``PATH`` environment variable is not set.