diff --git a/docs/yaml/objects/external_program.yaml b/docs/yaml/objects/external_program.yaml
index 4c24497a9f15..a2cdb873270d 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: 1.6.1
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreterobjects.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreterobjects.py
index a919102607be..faf986637d67 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 +646,19 @@ def _full_path(self) -> str:
         assert path is not None
         return path
 
+    @noPosargs
+    @noKwargs
+    @FeatureNew('ExternalProgram.cmd_array', '1.6.1')
+    def cmd_array_method(self, args: T.List[TYPE_var], kwargs: TYPE_kwargs) -> T.List[str]:
+        return self._cmd_array()
+
+    def _cmd_array(self) -> 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')