diff --git a/modules/lang/markdown/autoload.el b/modules/lang/markdown/autoload.el
index 2a9595bc3..7fcfcd97a 100644
--- a/modules/lang/markdown/autoload.el
+++ b/modules/lang/markdown/autoload.el
@@ -77,10 +77,11 @@ Returns its exit code."
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun +markdown-compile-markdown (beg end output-buffer)
-  "Compiles markdown using the markdown program, if available.
-Returns its exit code."
-  (when (executable-find "markdown")
+  "Compiles markdown using the Markdown.pl script (or markdown executable), if
+available. Returns its exit code."
+  (when-let* ((exe (or (executable-find "Markdown.pl")
+                       (executable-find "markdown"))))
     (call-process-region beg end
                          shell-file-name nil output-buffer nil
                          shell-command-switch
-                         "markdown")))
+                         exe)))