diff --git a/pre_commit/languages/coursier.py b/pre_commit/languages/coursier.py
index e47f9c873..8fde355c9 100644
--- a/pre_commit/languages/coursier.py
+++ b/pre_commit/languages/coursier.py
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ def install_environment(
     helpers.assert_version_default('coursier', version)
     helpers.assert_no_additional_deps('coursier', additional_dependencies)
 
+    # Support both possible executable names (either "cs" or "coursier")
+    executable = next(filter(helpers.exe_exists, ('cs', 'coursier')), None)
+    if executable is None:
+        raise AssertionError(
+            'pre-commit requires system-installed "cs" or "coursier" '
+            'executables in the application search path',
+        )
+
     envdir = prefix.path(helpers.environment_dir(ENVIRONMENT_DIR, version))
     channel = prefix.path('.pre-commit-channel')
     with clean_path_on_failure(envdir):
@@ -36,7 +44,7 @@ def install_environment(
             helpers.run_setup_cmd(
                 prefix,
                 (
-                    'cs',
+                    executable,
                     'install',
                     '--default-channels=false',
                     f'--channel={channel}',