diff --git a/constructor/main.py b/constructor/main.py
index e4d8c897..bee9f081 100644
--- a/constructor/main.py
+++ b/constructor/main.py
@@ -187,26 +187,27 @@ def main_build(dir_path, output_dir='.', platform=cc_platform,
             else:
                 env_config[config_key] = value
 
-    if exe_type is None or exe_version is None:
-        logger.warning(
-            "Could not identify conda-standalone / micromamba version. "
-            "Will assume it is compatible with shortcuts."
+    # Installers will disable shortcut options and features only if the user
+    # opted-out by setting every `menu_packages` item to an empty list
+    info['_enable_shortcuts'] = bool(
+        info.get("menu_packages", True)
+        or any(
+            env.get("menu_packages", True)
+            for env in info.get("extra_envs", {}).values()
         )
-    elif sys.platform != "win32" and (
-        exe_type != StandaloneExe.CONDA or (exe_version and exe_version < Version("23.11.0"))
-    ):
-        logger.warning("conda-standalone 23.11.0 or above is required for shortcuts on Unix.")
-        info['_enable_shortcuts'] = "incompatible"
-    else:
-        # Installers will provide shortcut options and features only if the user
-        # didn't opt-out by setting every `menu_packages` item to an empty list
-        info['_enable_shortcuts'] = bool(
-            info.get("menu_packages", True)
-            or any(
-                env.get("menu_packages", True)
-                for env in info.get("extra_envs", {}).values()
+    )
+
+    if info['_enable_shortcuts']:
+        if exe_type is None or exe_version is None:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Could not identify conda-standalone / micromamba version. "
+                "Will assume it is compatible with shortcuts."
             )
-        )
+        elif sys.platform != "win32" and (
+            exe_type != StandaloneExe.CONDA or (exe_version and exe_version < Version("23.11.0"))
+        ):
+            logger.warning("conda-standalone 23.11.0 or above is required for shortcuts on Unix.")
+            info['_enable_shortcuts'] = "incompatible"
 
     # Add --no-rc option to CONDA_EXE command so that existing
     # .condarc files do not pollute the installation process.
diff --git a/constructor/utils.py b/constructor/utils.py
index 4b2c6352..018bab08 100644
--- a/constructor/utils.py
+++ b/constructor/utils.py
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ def identify_conda_exe(conda_exe: Union[str, Path] = None) -> Tuple[StandaloneEx
         output_help = check_output([conda_exe, "--help"], text=True)
         if "mamba" in output_help:
             return StandaloneExe.MAMBA, output_version
-    except CalledProcessError as exc:
+    except (CalledProcessError, OSError) as exc:
         logger.warning(f"Could not identify standalone binary {exc}.")
     return None, None
 
diff --git a/tests/test_examples.py b/tests/test_examples.py
index 3fb7308d..eddeef64 100644
--- a/tests/test_examples.py
+++ b/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -741,6 +741,42 @@ def test_example_from_env_yaml(tmp_path, request):
             assert pkg["channel"] != "pypi"
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(params=["linux-aarch64"])
+def platform_conda_exe(request, tmp_path) -> Tuple[str, Path]:
+    platform = request.param
+    tmp_env = tmp_path / "env"
+    subprocess.check_call(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            "-mconda",
+            "create",
+            "-p",
+            tmp_env,
+            "-y",
+            "conda-standalone",
+            "--platform",
+            platform,
+        ],
+    )
+    conda_exe = tmp_env / "conda_standalone/conda.exe"
+    assert conda_exe.exists()
+    return platform, tmp_env
+
+
+def test_cross_build_example_from_env_yaml(tmp_path, request, platform_conda_exe):
+    platform, conda_exe = platform_conda_exe
+    input_path = _example_path("from_env_yaml")
+
+    for installer, install_dir in create_installer(
+        input_path,
+        tmp_path,
+        timeout=600,
+        conda_exe=conda_exe,
+        extra_constructor_args=["--platform", platform]
+    ):
+        assert installer.exists()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.skipif(context.subdir != "linux-64", reason="Linux x64 only")
 def test_example_from_explicit(tmp_path, request):
     input_path = _example_path("from_explicit")