diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 34aac5680..85eb203bc 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -79,6 +79,14 @@ AC_ARG_WITH([system-luarocks],
 AM_CONDITIONAL([SYSTEM_LUAROCKS], [test "x$with_system_luarocks" = "xyes"])
 AC_SUBST([SYSTEM_LUAROCKS])
 
+AC_ARG_WITH([vendored-luarocks-dir],
+            AS_HELP_STRING([--with-vendored-luarocks-dir=PATH],
+                           [Specify a custom vendored location from which to load ‘system’ luarocks]),
+            [],
+            [with_vendored_luarocks_dir=no])
+AM_CONDITIONAL([VENDORED_LUAROCKS], [test "x$with_vendored_luarocks_dir" != "xno"])
+AC_SUBST([VENDORED_LUAROCKS])
+
 AC_ARG_WITH([system-lua-sources],
             AS_HELP_STRING([--with-system-lua-sources],
                            [Don’t compile against vendored Lua sources, use system headers]))
@@ -266,16 +274,20 @@ AM_COND_IF([DEVELOPER_MODE], [
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SILE_PATH], ["${SILE_PATH}"], [Path for SILE packages and classes])
 AC_SUBST([SILE_PATH])
 
-# In order for our Rust CLI binary to use the same default package.path as the system Lua,
-# we test the system Lua (required only at build not run time) for its current package.path.
+# In order for our Rust CLI binary to use the same default package.(c)path as the system Lua,
+# we test the system Lua (required only at build not run time) for its current package.(c)path.
 adl_RECURSIVE_EVAL(["$(${LUA} -e 'print(package.path)')"], [SYSTEM_LUA_PATH])
-AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SYSTEM_LUA_PATH], ["${SYSTEM_LUA_PATH}"],[System Lua package path])
-AC_SUBST([SYSTEM_LUA_PATH])
-
 adl_RECURSIVE_EVAL(["$(${LUA} -e 'print(package.cpath)')"], [SYSTEM_LUA_CPATH])
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SYSTEM_LUA_PATH], ["${SYSTEM_LUA_PATH}"],[System Lua package path])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SYSTEM_LUA_CPATH], ["${SYSTEM_LUA_CPATH}"], [System Lua package cpath])
+AC_SUBST([SYSTEM_LUA_PATH])
 AC_SUBST([SYSTEM_LUA_CPATH])
 
+# Accommodate Homebrew and/or other distros that pretend a vendored location is the system.
+AM_COND_IF([VENDORED_LUAROCKS],
+        [VENDORED_LUAROCKS_DIR="$with_vendored_luarocks_dir"])
+AC_SUBST([VENDORED_LUAROCKS_DIR])
+
 adl_RECURSIVE_EVAL(["${libdir}/${TRANSFORMED_PACKAGE_NAME}"], [SILE_LIB_PATH])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SILE_LIB_PATH],["${SILE_LIB_PATH}"], [Path for SILE libraries])
 AC_SUBST([SILE_LIB_PATH])
diff --git a/core/pathsetup.lua.in b/core/pathsetup.lua.in
index 9dff27a01..d7556f58d 100644
--- a/core/pathsetup.lua.in
+++ b/core/pathsetup.lua.in
@@ -6,16 +6,17 @@ if "@SYSTEM_LUA_PATH@" ~= "" then
 end
 -- stylua: ignore end
 
--- In the event the user has exported Lua environment variables, use them like a system Lua VM would. This essentially
--- nukes the existing runtime path and uses only the new value. This is useful for using `eval $(luarocks --local path)`
+-- In the event the user has exported Lua environment variables, use them like a system Lua VM would. This can either
+-- nuke the existing value and fully replace it, or using the Lua convention of ';;' to signify the default path, we can
+-- extend what we deduced about the system at build time. This is useful for using `eval $(luarocks --local path)`
 -- or similar incantations that setup a path that will reach 3rd party modules.
 local env_lua_path = os.getenv("LUA_PATH")
 if env_lua_path then
-   package.path = env_lua_path
+   package.path = env_lua_path:gsub(";;", (";%s;"):format(package.path))
 end
 local env_lua_cpath = os.getenv("LUA_CPATH")
 if env_lua_cpath then
-   package.cpath = env_lua_cpath
+   package.cpath = env_lua_cpath:gsub(";;", (";%s;"):format(package.cpath))
 end
 
 local executable = debug.getinfo(3, "S").source
@@ -92,6 +93,10 @@ extendPaths("@SILE_LIB_PATH@", true)
 -- development mode source directory or expected system installation location).
 if "@SYSTEM_LUAROCKS_FALSE@" == "" then -- see ./configure --with[out]-system-luarocks
    extendPathsRocks("@SILE_PATH@/lua_modules")
+elseif "@VENDORED_LUAROCKS_TRUE@" == "" then -- see ./configure --with-vendored-luarocks=DIR
+   -- Accommodate Homebrew (and any other distros that pretend a vendored location is the system) in handling their
+   -- preferred location without clobbering users’ ability to setup 3rd party packages using `luarocks path`.
+   extendPathsRocks("@VENDORED_LUAROCKS_DIR@")
 end
 
 -- Stuff the variants of system Lua Rocks paths with sile suffixes added back at higher priority that regular paths.