diff --git a/backends/cuda/cuda_backend.py b/backends/cuda/cuda_backend.py
index 01044d85f5f..dbbd79f4881 100644
--- a/backends/cuda/cuda_backend.py
+++ b/backends/cuda/cuda_backend.py
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@
 # LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
 
 import os
+import shutil
 import typing
 from importlib import resources
-from typing import Any, Dict, final, List
+from typing import Any, Dict, final, List, Optional
 
 import torch
 from executorch.backends.aoti.aoti_backend import AotiBackend
@@ -36,6 +37,57 @@ class CudaBackend(AotiBackend, BackendDetails):
     def get_device_name(cls) -> str:
         return "cuda"
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _find_ptxas_for_version(cuda_version: str) -> Optional[str]:  # noqa: C901
+        """
+        Find ptxas binary that matches the expected CUDA version.
+        Returns the path to ptxas if found and version matches, None otherwise.
+        """
+        expected_version_marker = f"/cuda-{cuda_version}/"
+
+        def _validate_ptxas_version(path: str) -> bool:
+            """Check if ptxas at given path matches expected CUDA version."""
+            if not os.path.exists(path):
+                return False
+            resolved = os.path.realpath(path)
+            return expected_version_marker in resolved
+
+        # 1. Try PyTorch's CUDA_HOME
+        try:
+            from torch.utils.cpp_extension import CUDA_HOME
+
+            if CUDA_HOME:
+                ptxas_path = os.path.join(CUDA_HOME, "bin", "ptxas")
+                if _validate_ptxas_version(ptxas_path):
+                    return ptxas_path
+        except ImportError:
+            pass
+
+        # 2. Try CUDA_HOME / CUDA_PATH environment variables
+        for env_var in ("CUDA_HOME", "CUDA_PATH", "CUDA_ROOT"):
+            cuda_home = os.environ.get(env_var)
+            if cuda_home:
+                ptxas_path = os.path.join(cuda_home, "bin", "ptxas")
+                if _validate_ptxas_version(ptxas_path):
+                    return ptxas_path
+
+        # 3. Try versioned path directly
+        versioned_path = f"/usr/local/cuda-{cuda_version}/bin/ptxas"
+        if os.path.exists(versioned_path):
+            return versioned_path
+
+        # 4. Try system PATH via shutil.which
+        ptxas_in_path = shutil.which("ptxas")
+        if ptxas_in_path and _validate_ptxas_version(ptxas_in_path):
+            return ptxas_in_path
+
+        # 5. Try default symlink path as last resort
+        default_path = "/usr/local/cuda/bin/ptxas"
+        if _validate_ptxas_version(default_path):
+            return default_path
+
+        return None
+
     @staticmethod
     def _setup_cuda_environment_for_fatbin() -> bool:
         """
@@ -57,12 +109,9 @@ def _setup_cuda_environment_for_fatbin() -> bool:
 
             # Set TRITON_PTXAS_PATH for CUDA 12.6+
             if major == 12 and minor >= 6:
-                # Try versioned path first, fallback to symlinked path
-                ptxas_path = f"/usr/local/cuda-{cuda_version}/bin/ptxas"
-                if not os.path.exists(ptxas_path):
-                    ptxas_path = "/usr/local/cuda/bin/ptxas"
-                    if not os.path.exists(ptxas_path):
-                        return False
+                ptxas_path = CudaBackend._find_ptxas_for_version(cuda_version)
+                if ptxas_path is None:
+                    return False
                 os.environ["TRITON_PTXAS_PATH"] = ptxas_path
 
             # Get compute capability of current CUDA device