diff --git a/packages/cdk-assets/lib/private/docker.ts b/packages/cdk-assets/lib/private/docker.ts
index f321bac3c11b6..a87d21a723541 100644
--- a/packages/cdk-assets/lib/private/docker.ts
+++ b/packages/cdk-assets/lib/private/docker.ts
@@ -271,9 +271,14 @@ export class DockerFactory {
 }
 
 function getDockerCmd(): string {
-  return process.env.CDK_DOCKER ?? 'docker';
+  return process.env.CDK_DOCKER ?? getDockerCmdMac() ?? 'docker';
 }
 
 function flatten(x: string[][]) {
   return Array.prototype.concat([], ...x);
 }
+
+function getDockerCmdMac(): string {
+  const isMac = os.platform() === 'darwin';
+  if ( isMac ) return '/Applications/Docker.app/Contents/Resources/bin/docker'
+}
\ No newline at end of file