diff --git a/libc/calls/getprogramexecutablename.greg.c b/libc/calls/getprogramexecutablename.greg.c
index 84a030953..89be34faa 100644
--- a/libc/calls/getprogramexecutablename.greg.c
+++ b/libc/calls/getprogramexecutablename.greg.c
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ static inline int IsAlpha(int c) {
 }
 
 static inline void InitProgramExecutableNameImpl(void) {
-  if (__myname) {
+  if (__program_executable_name) {
+    /* already set by the loader */
     return;
   }
   npassert(!issetugid());   // TODO(mrdomino): pathname security
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ static inline void InitProgramExecutableNameImpl(void) {
 
   char c, *q;
   if (IsMetal()) {
-    __myname = APE_COM_NAME;
+    __program_executable_name = APE_COM_NAME;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ static inline void InitProgramExecutableNameImpl(void) {
   g_prog.u.buf[0] = 0;
 
 UseBuf:
-  __myname = g_prog.u.buf;
+  __program_executable_name = g_prog.u.buf;
 }
 
 static void InitProgramExecutableName(void) {
@@ -181,5 +182,5 @@ static void InitProgramExecutableName(void) {
  */
 char *GetProgramExecutableName(void) {
   cosmo_once(&g_prog.once, InitProgramExecutableName);
-  return __myname;
+  return __program_executable_name;
 }
diff --git a/libc/nexgen32e/myname2.c b/libc/nexgen32e/myname2.c
index e95a67ddf..bbc9a1183 100644
--- a/libc/nexgen32e/myname2.c
+++ b/libc/nexgen32e/myname2.c
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@
 ╚─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
 #include "libc/runtime/runtime.h"
 
-char *__myname;
+char *__program_executable_name;
diff --git a/libc/runtime/cosmo2.c b/libc/runtime/cosmo2.c
index 06289578c..57067b5ab 100644
--- a/libc/runtime/cosmo2.c
+++ b/libc/runtime/cosmo2.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static const char *DecodeMagnum(const char *p, long *r) {
   return *r = x, p;
 }
 
-wontreturn textstartup void cosmo(long *sp, struct Syslib *m1, char *myname) {
+wontreturn textstartup void cosmo(long *sp, struct Syslib *m1, char *exename) {
 
   // get startup timestamp as early as possible
   // its used by --strace and also kprintf() %T
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ wontreturn textstartup void cosmo(long *sp, struct Syslib *m1, char *myname) {
   __envp = envp;
   __auxv = auxv;
   environ = envp;
+  __program_executable_name = exename;
   program_invocation_name = argv[0];
   __oldstack = (intptr_t)sp;
-  __myname = myname;
 
   // detect apple m1 environment
   const char *magnums;
diff --git a/libc/runtime/runtime.h b/libc/runtime/runtime.h
index 30fa713e3..5e5958f5a 100644
--- a/libc/runtime/runtime.h
+++ b/libc/runtime/runtime.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ extern char **__argv;
 extern char **__envp;
 extern unsigned long *__auxv;
 extern intptr_t __oldstack;
-extern char *__myname;
+extern char *__program_executable_name;
 extern uint64_t __nosync;
 extern int __strace;
 extern int __ftrace;