diff --git a/test/test_environment.py b/test/test_environment.py
index 4382df44..2a10ed5a 100644
--- a/test/test_environment.py
+++ b/test/test_environment.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
 import subprocess
+import sys
 import textwrap
 
 import pytest
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ project_with_environment_asserts = test_projects.new_c_project(
 
 
 def test(tmp_path):
+    python_echo = f"'{sys.executable}' -c \"import sys; print(*sys.argv[1:])\""
     project_dir = tmp_path / "project"
     project_with_environment_asserts.generate(project_dir)
 
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ def test(tmp_path):
         project_dir,
         add_env={
             "CIBW_ENVIRONMENT": """CIBW_TEST_VAR="a b c" CIBW_TEST_VAR_2=1 CIBW_TEST_VAR_3="$(echo 'test string 3')" PATH=$PATH:/opt/cibw_test_path""",
-            "CIBW_ENVIRONMENT_WINDOWS": '''CIBW_TEST_VAR="a b c" CIBW_TEST_VAR_2=1 CIBW_TEST_VAR_3="$(echo 'test string 3')" PATH="$PATH;/opt/cibw_test_path"''',
+            "CIBW_ENVIRONMENT_WINDOWS": f'''CIBW_TEST_VAR="a b c" CIBW_TEST_VAR_2=1 CIBW_TEST_VAR_3="$({python_echo} 'test string 3')" PATH="$PATH;/opt/cibw_test_path"''',
         },
     )
 
diff --git a/unit_test/environment_test.py b/unit_test/environment_test.py
index 38678771..f4229f80 100644
--- a/unit_test/environment_test.py
+++ b/unit_test/environment_test.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+import sys
 
 from cibuildwheel.environment import parse_environment
 
+# this command is equivalent to Unix 'echo', but works on Windows too
+PYTHON_ECHO = f"'{sys.executable}' -c \"import sys; print(*sys.argv[1:])\""
+
 
 def test_basic_parsing():
     environment_recipe = parse_environment("VAR=1 VBR=2")
@@ -30,7 +34,7 @@ def test_inheritance():
 
 
 def test_shell_eval():
-    environment_recipe = parse_environment('VAR="$(echo "a   test" string)"')
+    environment_recipe = parse_environment(f'VAR="$({PYTHON_ECHO} "a   test" string)"')
 
     env_copy = os.environ.copy()
     env_copy.pop("VAR", None)
@@ -41,11 +45,12 @@ def test_shell_eval():
 
 
 def test_shell_eval_and_env():
-    environment_recipe = parse_environment('VAR="$(echo "$PREV_VAR" string)"')
+    environment_recipe = parse_environment(f'VAR="$({PYTHON_ECHO} "$PREV_VAR" string)"')
 
-    environment_dict = environment_recipe.as_dictionary(prev_environment={"PREV_VAR": "1 2 3"})
+    prev_environment = {**os.environ, "PREV_VAR": "1 2 3"}
+    environment_dict = environment_recipe.as_dictionary(prev_environment=prev_environment)
 
-    assert environment_dict == {"PREV_VAR": "1 2 3", "VAR": "1 2 3 string"}
+    assert environment_dict == {**prev_environment, "VAR": "1 2 3 string"}
 
 
 def test_empty_var():
@@ -75,10 +80,12 @@ def test_no_vars_pass_through():
 
 
 def test_operators_inside_eval():
-    environment_recipe = parse_environment('SOMETHING="$(echo a; echo b; echo c)"')
+    environment_recipe = parse_environment(
+        f'SOMETHING="$({PYTHON_ECHO} a; {PYTHON_ECHO} b; {PYTHON_ECHO} c)"'
+    )
 
-    # pass the existing process env so PATH is available
-    environment_dict = environment_recipe.as_dictionary(os.environ.copy())
+    # pass the existing process env so subcommands can be run in the evaluation
+    environment_dict = environment_recipe.as_dictionary(prev_environment=os.environ.copy())
 
     assert environment_dict.get("SOMETHING") == "a\nb\nc"
 
@@ -86,7 +93,6 @@ def test_operators_inside_eval():
 def test_substitution_with_backslash():
     environment_recipe = parse_environment('PATH2="somewhere_else;$PATH1"')
 
-    # pass the existing process env so PATH is available
     environment_dict = environment_recipe.as_dictionary(prev_environment={"PATH1": "c:\\folder\\"})
 
     assert environment_dict.get("PATH2") == "somewhere_else;c:\\folder\\"
@@ -94,11 +100,11 @@ def test_substitution_with_backslash():
 
 def test_awkwardly_quoted_variable():
     environment_recipe = parse_environment(
-        'VAR2=something"like this""$VAR1"$VAR1$(echo "there is more")"$(echo "and more!")"'
+        f'VAR2=something"like this""$VAR1"$VAR1$({PYTHON_ECHO} "there is more")"$({PYTHON_ECHO} "and more!")"'
     )
 
-    # pass the existing process env so PATH is available
-    environment_dict = environment_recipe.as_dictionary({"VAR1": "but wait"})
+    prev_environment = {**os.environ, "VAR1": "but wait"}
+    environment_dict = environment_recipe.as_dictionary(prev_environment=prev_environment)
 
     assert (
         environment_dict.get("VAR2") == "somethinglike thisbut waitbut waitthere is moreand more!"