diff --git a/src/builtin_status.cpp b/src/builtin_status.cpp
index b05e1ccfc..4862a8897 100644
--- a/src/builtin_status.cpp
+++ b/src/builtin_status.cpp
@@ -423,8 +423,15 @@ int builtin_status(parser_t &parser, io_streams_t &streams, wchar_t **argv) {
         }
         case STATUS_CURRENT_CMD: {
             CHECK_FOR_UNEXPECTED_STATUS_ARGS(opts.status_cmd)
-            streams.out.append(program_name);
-            streams.out.push_back(L'\n');
+            // HACK: Go via the deprecated variable to get the command.
+            const auto var = env_get(L"_");
+            if (!var.missing_or_empty()) {
+                streams.out.append(var->as_string());
+                streams.out.push_back(L'\n');
+            } else {
+                streams.out.append(program_name);
+                streams.out.push_back(L'\n');
+            }
             break;
         }
         case STATUS_FISH_PATH: {