diff --git a/README.org b/README.org
index 831e842..0a9c59f 100644
--- a/README.org
+++ b/README.org
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ Few other variables for customising workflow:
 (setq whisper-transcription-buffer-name-function #'whisper--simple-transcription-buffer-name)
      #+end_src
 - =whisper-return-cursor-to-start=: By default when whisper.el is inserting transcribed text at the point where =whisper-run= is invoked, it keeps cursor at original point to better denote where transcribed text begins. Set this to =nil= to let cursor go to the end of the transcribed text.
+- =whisper-curl-path=: Path to the curl executable. Default is =curl= (uses system PATH). Set this if you need to use a specific curl binary, e.g. ="/usr/local/bin/curl"= or ="/opt/homebrew/bin/curl"=.
 - =whisper-server-mode=: Choose between different transcription modes:
    - =nil= (default): Use whisper.cpp directly
    - =local=: Run whisper.cpp as a local HTTP server for better performance with multiple requests
diff --git a/whisper.el b/whisper.el
index 92e6b6b..868fe08 100644
--- a/whisper.el
+++ b/whisper.el
@@ -161,6 +161,13 @@ Possible values:
   :type 'integer
   :group 'whisper)
 
+(defcustom whisper-curl-path "curl"
+  "Path to the curl executable.
+This can be either just the executable name -
+(if it's in PATH) or the full path to the curl binary."
+  :type 'string
+  :group 'whisper)
+
 (defcustom whisper-openai-api-baseurl "https://api.openai.com/"
   "URL for OpenAI compatible transcription API endpoint."
   :type 'string
@@ -205,6 +212,7 @@ non-interactive scripting where user only intends to run the functions in
 By default we create a timestamp based new buffer, but if you prefer to name
 it something simple and deterministic to avoid proliferation of such buffers
 then set it to `whisper--simple-transcription-buffer-name' instead."
+  :type 'function
   :group 'whisper)
 
 (defcustom whisper-return-cursor-to-start t
@@ -548,10 +556,10 @@ PRE-PROCESSOR is a function that will be called first thing on the raw output."
   "Make curl request to URL with HEADERS and PARAMS and process response."
   (make-process
    :name "whisper-curl"
-   :command `("curl" "-s"
-              ,url
-              ,@(mapcan (lambda (h) (list "-H" h)) headers)
-              ,@(mapcan (lambda (p) (list "-F" p)) params))
+   :command `(,whisper-curl-path "-s"
+                                 ,url
+                                 ,@(mapcan (lambda (h) (list "-H" h)) headers)
+                                 ,@(mapcan (lambda (p) (list "-F" p)) params))
    :buffer (get-buffer-create whisper--stdout-buffer-name)
    :stderr (get-buffer-create whisper--stderr-buffer-name)
    :coding 'utf-8
@@ -792,7 +800,7 @@ escapes me right now, to get let bindings work like synchronous code."
         (if (eq whisper-install-whispercpp 'manual)
             (message "Compilation exited abnormally, but not deleting directory because installation is manual.")
           (progn
-            (delete-directory whisper--install-path t)
+            ;; (delete-directory whisper--install-path t)
             (message "Couldn't compile whisper.cpp. Check that you have Git, a C++ compiler and CMake installed.")))
         (display-buffer whisper--compilation-buffer)
         (throw 'early-return nil))