diff --git a/go/vt/mysqlctl/xtrabackupengine.go b/go/vt/mysqlctl/xtrabackupengine.go
index d0f63b5eed3..0c4c5d938c0 100644
--- a/go/vt/mysqlctl/xtrabackupengine.go
+++ b/go/vt/mysqlctl/xtrabackupengine.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type XtrabackupEngine struct {
 
 var (
 	// path where backup engine program is located
-	xtrabackupEnginePath = flag.String("xtrabackup_root_path", "", "directory location of the xtrabackup executable, e.g., /usr/bin")
+	xtrabackupEnginePath = flag.String("xtrabackup_root_path", "", "directory location of the xtrabackup and xbstream executables, e.g., /usr/bin")
 	// flags to pass through to backup phase
 	xtrabackupBackupFlags = flag.String("xtrabackup_backup_flags", "", "flags to pass to backup command. These should be space separated and will be added to the end of the command")
 	// flags to pass through to prepare phase of restore
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ func (be *XtrabackupEngine) extractFiles(ctx context.Context, logger logutil.Log
 
 	case xbstream:
 		// now extract the files by running xbstream
-		xbstreamProgram := xbstream
+		xbstreamProgram := path.Join(*xtrabackupEnginePath, xbstream)
 		flagsToExec := []string{"-C", tempDir, "-xv"}
 		if *xbstreamRestoreFlags != "" {
 			flagsToExec = append(flagsToExec, strings.Fields(*xbstreamRestoreFlags)...)