diff --git a/docs/yaml/objects/external_program.yaml b/docs/yaml/objects/external_program.yaml
index 4c24497a9f15..d7f366ef1945 100644
--- a/docs/yaml/objects/external_program.yaml
+++ b/docs/yaml/objects/external_program.yaml
@@ -56,3 +56,8 @@ methods:
     ```meson
     run_command(find_program('foo'), 'arg1', 'arg2')
     ```
+
+- name: cmd_array
+  returns: list[str]
+  description: Returns an array containing the command(s) for the program.
+  since: 1.7.0
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreterobjects.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreterobjects.py
index a919102607be..e563f9289fcc 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreterobjects.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreterobjects.py
@@ -618,7 +618,8 @@ def __init__(self, ep: _EXTPROG, interpreter: 'Interpreter') -> None:
         self.methods.update({'found': self.found_method,
                              'path': self.path_method,
                              'version': self.version_method,
-                             'full_path': self.full_path_method})
+                             'full_path': self.full_path_method,
+                             'cmd_array': self.cmd_array_method})
 
     @noPosargs
     @noKwargs
@@ -645,6 +646,16 @@ def _full_path(self) -> str:
         assert path is not None
         return path
 
+    @noPosargs
+    @noKwargs
+    @FeatureNew('ExternalProgram.cmd_array', '1.7.0')
+    def cmd_array_method(self, args: T.List[TYPE_var], kwargs: TYPE_kwargs) -> T.List[str]:
+        if not self.found():
+            raise InterpreterException('Unable to get the path of a not-found external program')
+        cmd = self.held_object.get_command()
+        assert cmd is not None
+        return cmd
+
     @noPosargs
     @noKwargs
     @FeatureNew('ExternalProgram.version', '0.62.0')
diff --git a/test cases/common/26 find program/meson.build b/test cases/common/26 find program/meson.build
index a20f6b45a142..0466e241359b 100644
--- a/test cases/common/26 find program/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/common/26 find program/meson.build	
@@ -40,3 +40,18 @@ assert(not prog.found(), 'Program should not be found')
 
 prog = find_program('test_subdir.py', dirs : ['/nonexistent', meson.current_source_dir() / 'scripts'])
 assert(prog.found(), 'Program should be found')
+
+prog = find_program('print-version.py')
+message(prog.cmd_array())
+message(prog.full_path())
+if build_machine.system() != 'cygwin'
+  assert(prog.cmd_array() != [prog.full_path()])
+endif
+
+if build_machine.system() == 'windows'
+  prog = find_program('cmd.exe')
+  assert(prog.cmd_array() == [prog.full_path()])
+else
+  prog = find_program('ld')
+  assert(prog.cmd_array() == [prog.full_path()])
+endif
\ No newline at end of file