diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemTools.cpp b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemTools.cpp
index 3739f2c42e..fedbe2fe8f 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemTools.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemTools.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
 #include "PreCompiled.h"
 
 #ifndef _PreComp_
-#include <QFileInfo>
+#include <QStandardPaths>
+#include <QStringList>
 
 #include <BRepAdaptor_Curve.hxx>
 #include <BRepAdaptor_Surface.hxx>
@@ -300,29 +301,33 @@ std::string Fem::Tools::checkIfBinaryExists(std::string prefSection,
     bool knownDirectories = hGrp->GetBool(knownDirectoriesString.c_str(), true);
 
     if (knownDirectories) {
-#if defined(FC_OS_WIN32)
-        binaryName = binaryName + ".exe";
-#endif
-        // first check the environment paths by QFileInfo
-        if (QFileInfo::exists(QString::fromLatin1(binaryName.c_str()))) {
-            return binaryName;
+        // first check the environment paths, normally determined by the PATH environment variable
+        // On Windows, the executable extensions(".exe" etc.) should be automatically appended
+        QString executablePath =
+            QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QString::fromLatin1(binaryName.c_str()));
+        if (!executablePath.isEmpty()) {
+            return executablePath.toStdString();
         }
         // check the folder of the FreeCAD binary
         else {
-            auto homePathBinary = App::Application::getHomePath() + "bin/" + binaryName;
-            if (QFileInfo::exists(QString::fromLatin1(homePathBinary.c_str()))) {
-                return binaryName;
+            auto appBinaryPath = App::Application::getHomePath() + "bin/";
+            QStringList pathCandidates = {QString::fromLatin1(appBinaryPath.c_str())};
+            QString executablePath =
+                QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QString::fromLatin1(binaryName.c_str()),
+                                               pathCandidates);
+            if (!executablePath.isEmpty()) {
+                return executablePath.toStdString();
             }
         }
     }
     else {
         auto binaryPathString = prefBinaryName + "BinaryPath";
-        ParameterGrp::handle hGrp =
-            App::GetApplication().GetParameterGroupByPath(paramPath.c_str());
-        auto binaryPath = hGrp->GetASCII(binaryPathString.c_str(), "");
-        QFileInfo::exists(QString::fromLatin1(binaryPath.c_str()));
-        if (QFileInfo::exists(QString::fromLatin1(binaryPath.c_str()))) {
-            return binaryPath;
+        // use binary path from settings, fall back to system path if not defined
+        auto binaryPath = hGrp->GetASCII(binaryPathString.c_str(), binaryName.c_str());
+        QString executablePath =
+            QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QString::fromLatin1(binaryPath.c_str()));
+        if (!executablePath.isEmpty()) {
+            return executablePath.toStdString();
         }
     }
     return "";
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/App/PreCompiled.h b/src/Mod/Fem/App/PreCompiled.h
index 1adfb01bb4..5d0cc033eb 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/App/PreCompiled.h
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/App/PreCompiled.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 
 #include <Python.h>
 #include <QFileInfo>
+#include <QStandardPaths>
 
 // Salomesh
 #include <SMDSAbs_ElementType.hxx>
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/DlgSettingsFemGeneralImp.cpp b/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/DlgSettingsFemGeneralImp.cpp
index 1cf03d90bf..1d6182261d 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/DlgSettingsFemGeneralImp.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/DlgSettingsFemGeneralImp.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ DlgSettingsFemGeneralImp::DlgSettingsFemGeneralImp(QWidget* parent)
     ui->cmb_def_solver->clear();
     std::vector<std::string> Solvers = {"None"};
 
-    if (!Fem::Tools::checkIfBinaryExists("CCX", "ccx", "ccx").empty()) {
+    if (!Fem::Tools::checkIfBinaryExists("Ccx", "ccx", "ccx").empty()) {
         Solvers.emplace_back("CalculiX");
     }
     if (!Fem::Tools::checkIfBinaryExists("Elmer", "elmer", "ElmerSolver").empty()) {
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/Workbench.cpp b/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/Workbench.cpp
index 2f2600013d..e2ea74f046 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/Workbench.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/Gui/Workbench.cpp
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ Gui::ToolBarItem* Workbench::setupToolBars() const
 
     Gui::ToolBarItem* solve = new Gui::ToolBarItem(root);
     solve->setCommand("Solve");
-    if (!Fem::Tools::checkIfBinaryExists("CCX", "ccx", "ccx").empty()) {
+    if (!Fem::Tools::checkIfBinaryExists("Ccx", "ccx", "ccx").empty()) {
         *solve << "FEM_SolverCalculiXCcxTools";
     }
     if (!Fem::Tools::checkIfBinaryExists("Elmer", "elmer", "ElmerSolver").empty()) {