diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/extend/os/linux/development_tools.rb b/Library/Homebrew/extend/os/linux/development_tools.rb
index ffac99bf6d..af0a123832 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/extend/os/linux/development_tools.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/extend/os/linux/development_tools.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 class DevelopmentTools
   class << self
+    def locate(tool)
+      (@locate ||= {}).fetch(tool) do |key|
+        @locate[key] = if (path = HOMEBREW_PREFIX/"bin/#{tool}").executable?
+          path
+        elsif File.executable?(path = "/usr/bin/#{tool}")
+          Pathname.new path
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     def default_compiler
       :gcc
     end