diff --git a/lldb/source/Commands/CommandObjectTarget.cpp b/lldb/source/Commands/CommandObjectTarget.cpp
--- a/lldb/source/Commands/CommandObjectTarget.cpp
+++ b/lldb/source/Commands/CommandObjectTarget.cpp
@@ -299,12 +299,6 @@
 
       const char *file_path = command.GetArgumentAtIndex(0);
       LLDB_SCOPED_TIMERF("(lldb) target create '%s'", file_path);
-      FileSpec file_spec;
-
-      if (file_path) {
-        file_spec.SetFile(file_path, FileSpec::Style::native);
-        FileSystem::Instance().Resolve(file_spec);
-      }
 
       bool must_set_platform_path = false;
 
@@ -333,6 +327,18 @@
 
       PlatformSP platform_sp = target_sp->GetPlatform();
 
+      FileSpec file_spec;
+      if (file_path) {
+        file_spec.SetFile(file_path, FileSpec::Style::native);
+        FileSystem::Instance().Resolve(file_spec);
+
+        // Try to resolve the exe based on PATH and/or platform-specific
+        // suffixes, but only if using the host platform.
+        if (platform_sp && platform_sp->IsHost() &&
+            !FileSystem::Instance().Exists(file_spec))
+          FileSystem::Instance().ResolveExecutableLocation(file_spec);
+      }
+
       if (remote_file) {
         if (platform_sp) {
           // I have a remote file.. two possible cases
diff --git a/lldb/source/Target/TargetList.cpp b/lldb/source/Target/TargetList.cpp
--- a/lldb/source/Target/TargetList.cpp
+++ b/lldb/source/Target/TargetList.cpp
@@ -121,6 +121,14 @@
   if (!user_exe_path.empty()) {
     ModuleSpec module_spec(FileSpec(user_exe_path, FileSpec::Style::native));
     FileSystem::Instance().Resolve(module_spec.GetFileSpec());
+
+    // Try to resolve the exe based on PATH and/or platform-specific suffixes,
+    // but only if using the host platform.
+    if (platform_sp->IsHost() &&
+        !FileSystem::Instance().Exists(module_spec.GetFileSpec()))
+      FileSystem::Instance().ResolveExecutableLocation(
+          module_spec.GetFileSpec());
+
     // Resolve the executable in case we are given a path to a application
     // bundle like a .app bundle on MacOSX.
     Host::ResolveExecutableInBundle(module_spec.GetFileSpec());