diff --git a/binfmt/binfmt.h b/binfmt/binfmt.h
index 13fb13fa6c..f66f8fc58f 100644
--- a/binfmt/binfmt.h
+++ b/binfmt/binfmt.h
@@ -117,6 +117,50 @@ void binfmt_freeargv(FAR char * const *argv);
 #  define binfmt_freeargv(argv)
 #endif
 
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: binfmt_copyenv
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   In the kernel build, the environment exists in the parent's address
+ *   environment and, hence, will be inaccessible when we switch to the
+ *   address environment of the new process. So we do not have any real
+ *   option other than to copy the parents envp list into an intermediate
+ *   buffer that resides in neutral kernel memory.
+ *
+ * Input Parameters:
+ *   envp     - Allocated environment strings
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   A non-zero copy is returned on success.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef CONFIG_DISABLE_ENVIRON
+#  define binfmt_copyenv(envp) binfmt_copyargv(envp)
+#else
+#  define binfmt_copyenv(envp) (envp)
+#endif
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: binfmt_freeenv
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Release the copied envp[] list.
+ *
+ * Input Parameters:
+ *   envp     - Allocated environment strings
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   None
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef CONFIG_DISABLE_ENVIRON
+#  define binfmt_freeenv(envp) binfmt_freeargv(envp)
+#else
+#  define binfmt_freeenv(envp)
+#endif
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: builtin_initialize
  *
diff --git a/binfmt/binfmt_exec.c b/binfmt/binfmt_exec.c
index 5bac3a5e73..5b23488891 100644
--- a/binfmt/binfmt_exec.c
+++ b/binfmt/binfmt_exec.c
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
  *              program.
  *   argv     - A pointer to an array of string arguments. The end of the
  *              array is indicated with a NULL entry.
+ *   envp     - A pointer to an array of environment strings. Terminated with
+ *              a NULL entry.
  *   exports  - The address of the start of the caller-provided symbol
  *              table. This symbol table contains the addresses of symbols
  *              exported by the caller and made available for linking the
@@ -69,8 +71,8 @@
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 int exec_spawn(FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
-               FAR const struct symtab_s *exports, int nexports,
-               FAR const posix_spawnattr_t *attr)
+               FAR char * const *envp, FAR const struct symtab_s *exports,
+               int nexports, FAR const posix_spawnattr_t *attr)
 {
   FAR struct binary_s *bin;
   int pid;
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@ int exec_spawn(FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
 
   /* Then start the module */
 
-  pid = exec_module(bin, filename, argv);
+  pid = exec_module(bin, filename, argv, envp);
   if (pid < 0)
     {
       ret = pid;
@@ -228,7 +230,7 @@ int exec(FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
 {
   int ret;
 
-  ret = exec_spawn(filename, argv, exports, nexports, NULL);
+  ret = exec_spawn(filename, argv, NULL, exports, nexports, NULL);
   if (ret < 0)
     {
       set_errno(-ret);
diff --git a/binfmt/binfmt_execmodule.c b/binfmt/binfmt_execmodule.c
index b6db1860a5..15da3603e2 100644
--- a/binfmt/binfmt_execmodule.c
+++ b/binfmt/binfmt_execmodule.c
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ static void exec_ctors(FAR void *arg)
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 int exec_module(FAR const struct binary_s *binp,
-                FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv)
+                FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
+                FAR char * const *envp)
 {
   FAR struct task_tcb_s *tcb;
 #if defined(CONFIG_ARCH_ADDRENV) && defined(CONFIG_BUILD_KERNEL)
@@ -150,6 +151,18 @@ int exec_module(FAR const struct binary_s *binp,
         }
     }
 
+  /* Make a copy of the environment here */
+
+  if (envp)
+    {
+      envp = binfmt_copyenv(envp);
+      if (!envp)
+        {
+          ret = -ENOMEM;
+          goto errout_with_args;
+        }
+    }
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_ARCH_ADDRENV) && defined(CONFIG_BUILD_KERNEL)
   /* Instantiate the address environment containing the user heap */
 
@@ -157,7 +170,7 @@ int exec_module(FAR const struct binary_s *binp,
   if (ret < 0)
     {
       berr("ERROR: up_addrenv_select() failed: %d\n", ret);
-      goto errout_with_args;
+      goto errout_with_envp;
     }
 
   binfo("Initialize the user heap (heapsize=%d)\n", binp->addrenv.heapsize);
@@ -173,12 +186,12 @@ int exec_module(FAR const struct binary_s *binp,
   if (argv && argv[0])
     {
       ret = nxtask_init(tcb, argv[0], binp->priority, NULL,
-                        binp->stacksize, binp->entrypt, &argv[1]);
+                        binp->stacksize, binp->entrypt, &argv[1], envp);
     }
   else
     {
       ret = nxtask_init(tcb, filename, binp->priority, NULL,
-                        binp->stacksize, binp->entrypt, argv);
+                        binp->stacksize, binp->entrypt, argv, envp);
     }
 
   if (ret < 0)
@@ -187,7 +200,10 @@ int exec_module(FAR const struct binary_s *binp,
       goto errout_with_addrenv;
     }
 
+  /* The copied argv and envp can now be released */
+
   binfmt_freeargv(argv);
+  binfmt_freeenv(envp);
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_ARCH_ADDRENV) && defined(CONFIG_ARCH_KERNEL_STACK)
   /* Allocate the kernel stack */
@@ -281,7 +297,9 @@ errout_with_tcbinit:
 errout_with_addrenv:
 #if defined(CONFIG_ARCH_ADDRENV) && defined(CONFIG_BUILD_KERNEL)
   up_addrenv_restore(&oldenv);
+errout_with_envp:
 #endif
+  binfmt_freeenv(envp);
 errout_with_args:
   binfmt_freeargv(argv);
 errout_with_tcb:
diff --git a/include/cxx/cstdlib b/include/cxx/cstdlib
index 980956301d..eace8b417a 100644
--- a/include/cxx/cstdlib
+++ b/include/cxx/cstdlib
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ namespace std
 
   // Environment variable support
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_DISABLE_ENVIRON
   using ::get_environ_ptr;
+#endif
   using ::getenv;
   using ::putenv;
   using ::clearenv;
diff --git a/include/nuttx/binfmt/binfmt.h b/include/nuttx/binfmt/binfmt.h
index 416cc6c4a4..6ebeec446e 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/binfmt/binfmt.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/binfmt/binfmt.h
@@ -258,7 +258,8 @@ int unload_module(FAR struct binary_s *bin);
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 int exec_module(FAR const struct binary_s *binp,
-                FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv);
+                FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
+                FAR char * const *envp);
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: exec
@@ -338,6 +339,8 @@ int exec(FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
  *              program.
  *   argv     - A pointer to an array of string arguments. The end of the
  *              array is indicated with a NULL entry.
+ *   envp     - A pointer to an array of environment strings. Terminated with
+ *              a NULL entry.
  *   exports  - The address of the start of the caller-provided symbol
  *              table. This symbol table contains the addresses of symbols
  *              exported by the caller and made available for linking the
@@ -353,8 +356,8 @@ int exec(FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 int exec_spawn(FAR const char *filename, FAR char * const *argv,
-               FAR const struct symtab_s *exports, int nexports,
-               FAR const posix_spawnattr_t *attr);
+               FAR char * const *envp, FAR const struct symtab_s *exports,
+               int nexports, FAR const posix_spawnattr_t *attr);
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: binfmt_exit
diff --git a/include/nuttx/sched.h b/include/nuttx/sched.h
index 88659844f2..468b32dea3 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/sched.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/sched.h
@@ -933,6 +933,7 @@ FAR struct streamlist *nxsched_get_streams(void);
  *   argv       - A pointer to an array of input parameters.  The array
  *                should be terminated with a NULL argv[] value. If no
  *                parameters are required, argv may be NULL.
+ *   envp       - A pointer to the program's environment, envp may be NULL
  *
  * Returned Value:
  *   OK on success; negative error value on failure appropriately.  (See
@@ -945,7 +946,7 @@ FAR struct streamlist *nxsched_get_streams(void);
 
 int nxtask_init(FAR struct task_tcb_s *tcb, const char *name, int priority,
                 FAR void *stack, uint32_t stack_size, main_t entry,
-                FAR char * const argv[]);
+                FAR char * const argv[], FAR char * const envp[]);
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: nxtask_uninit
diff --git a/include/stdlib.h b/include/stdlib.h
index 745f4286b5..d40d0e0fed 100644
--- a/include/stdlib.h
+++ b/include/stdlib.h
@@ -138,7 +138,11 @@ void      arc4random_buf(FAR void *bytes, size_t nbytes);
 
 /* Environment variable support */
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_DISABLE_ENVIRON
+#  define get_environ_ptr() NULL
+#else
 FAR char **get_environ_ptr(void);
+#endif
 FAR char *getenv(FAR const char *name);
 int       putenv(FAR const char *string);
 int       clearenv(void);
diff --git a/sched/environ/env_dup.c b/sched/environ/env_dup.c
index 58f15bb9d5..87e9274c77 100644
--- a/sched/environ/env_dup.c
+++ b/sched/environ/env_dup.c
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@
  *   private, exact duplicate of the parent task's environment.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
- *   group - The child task group to receive the newly allocated copy of the
- *           parent task groups environment structure.
- *
+ *   group - The child task group to receive the newly allocated copy of
+ *           the parent task groups environment structure.
+ *   envcp - Pointer to the environment strings to copy.
  * Returned Value:
  *   zero on success
  *
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int env_dup(FAR struct task_group_s *group)
+int env_dup(FAR struct task_group_s *group, FAR char * const *envcp)
 {
   FAR struct tcb_s *ptcb = this_task();
   FAR char **envp = NULL;
   size_t envc = 0;
   int ret = OK;
 
-  DEBUGASSERT(group != NULL && ptcb != NULL && ptcb->group != NULL);
+  DEBUGASSERT(group != NULL);
 
   /* Pre-emption must be disabled throughout the following because the
    * environment may be shared.
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ int env_dup(FAR struct task_group_s *group)
 
   sched_lock();
 
-  /* Does the parent task have an environment? */
+  /* Is there an environment ? */
 
-  if (ptcb->group != NULL && ptcb->group->tg_envp != NULL)
+  if (envcp || (envcp = (FAR char * const *)ptcb->group->tg_envp))
     {
-      /* Yes.. The parent task has an environment allocation. */
+      /* Count the strings */
 
-      while (ptcb->group->tg_envp[envc] != NULL)
+      while (envcp[envc] != NULL)
         {
           envc++;
         }
@@ -113,8 +113,7 @@ int env_dup(FAR struct task_group_s *group)
 
               while (envc-- > 0)
                 {
-                  envp[envc] = group_malloc(group,
-                                  strlen(ptcb->group->tg_envp[envc]) + 1);
+                  envp[envc] = group_malloc(group, strlen(envcp[envc]) + 1);
                   if (envp[envc] == NULL)
                     {
                       while (envp[++envc] != NULL)
@@ -127,7 +126,7 @@ int env_dup(FAR struct task_group_s *group)
                       break;
                     }
 
-                  strcpy(envp[envc], ptcb->group->tg_envp[envc]);
+                  strcpy(envp[envc], envcp[envc]);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/sched/environ/environ.h b/sched/environ/environ.h
index 5787801f08..15aeceb0f5 100644
--- a/sched/environ/environ.h
+++ b/sched/environ/environ.h
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DISABLE_ENVIRON
-#  define env_dup(group)     (0)
-#  define env_release(group) (0)
+#  define env_dup(group, envp) (0)
+#  define env_release(group)   (0)
 #else
 
 /****************************************************************************
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ extern "C"
  * Input Parameters:
  *   group - The child task group to receive the newly allocated copy of the
  *           parent task groups environment structure.
+ *   envp  - Pointer to the environment strings.
  *
  * Returned Value:
  *   zero on success
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ extern "C"
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int env_dup(FAR struct task_group_s *group);
+int env_dup(FAR struct task_group_s *group, FAR char * const *envp);
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: env_release
diff --git a/sched/group/group_create.c b/sched/group/group_create.c
index acfc79b875..e5347ff541 100644
--- a/sched/group/group_create.c
+++ b/sched/group/group_create.c
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 #include <nuttx/sched.h>
 #include <nuttx/tls.h>
 
-#include "environ/environ.h"
 #include "sched/sched.h"
 #include "group/group.h"
 
@@ -201,15 +200,6 @@ int group_allocate(FAR struct task_tcb_s *tcb, uint8_t ttype)
 
   group_inherit_identity(group);
 
-  /* Duplicate the parent tasks environment */
-
-  ret = env_dup(group);
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      tcb->cmn.group = NULL;
-      goto errout_with_taskinfo;
-    }
-
   /* Initial user space semaphore */
 
   nxsem_init(&group->tg_info->ta_sem, 0, 1);
@@ -243,8 +233,6 @@ int group_allocate(FAR struct task_tcb_s *tcb, uint8_t ttype)
 
   return OK;
 
-errout_with_taskinfo:
-  group_free(group, group->tg_info);
 errout_with_member:
 #ifdef HAVE_GROUP_MEMBERS
   kmm_free(group->tg_members);
diff --git a/sched/init/nx_bringup.c b/sched/init/nx_bringup.c
index 8ec1d743d7..5391c3336a 100644
--- a/sched/init/nx_bringup.c
+++ b/sched/init/nx_bringup.c
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ static inline void nx_start_application(void)
 #ifndef CONFIG_ARCH_ADDRENV
   attr.stacksize = CONFIG_INIT_STACKSIZE;
 #endif
-  ret = exec_spawn(CONFIG_INIT_FILEPATH, argv,
+  ret = exec_spawn(CONFIG_INIT_FILEPATH, argv, NULL,
                    CONFIG_INIT_SYMTAB, CONFIG_INIT_NEXPORTS, &attr);
   DEBUGASSERT(ret >= 0);
 #endif
diff --git a/sched/task/spawn.h b/sched/task/spawn.h
index d1d6ba4a2c..521b065064 100644
--- a/sched/task/spawn.h
+++ b/sched/task/spawn.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ struct spawn_parms_s
   FAR const posix_spawn_file_actions_t *file_actions;
   FAR const posix_spawnattr_t *attr;
   FAR char * const *argv;
+  FAR char * const *envp;
 
   /* Parameters that differ for posix_spawn[p] and task_spawn */
 
diff --git a/sched/task/task_create.c b/sched/task/task_create.c
index e85ed653d3..380f5459c0 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_create.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_create.c
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ static int nxthread_create(FAR const char *name, uint8_t ttype,
 
   /* Initialize the task */
 
-  ret = nxtask_init(tcb, name, priority, stack_ptr, stack_size, entry, argv);
+  ret = nxtask_init(tcb, name, priority, stack_ptr, stack_size, entry, argv,
+                    NULL);
   if (ret < OK)
     {
       kmm_free(tcb);
diff --git a/sched/task/task_init.c b/sched/task/task_init.c
index 126484b802..5cbb774fba 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_init.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_init.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include <nuttx/tls.h>
 
 #include "sched/sched.h"
+#include "environ/environ.h"
 #include "group/group.h"
 #include "task/task.h"
 
@@ -83,7 +84,8 @@
 
 int nxtask_init(FAR struct task_tcb_s *tcb, const char *name, int priority,
                 FAR void *stack, uint32_t stack_size,
-                main_t entry, FAR char * const argv[])
+                main_t entry, FAR char * const argv[],
+                FAR char * const envp[])
 {
   uint8_t ttype = tcb->cmn.flags & TCB_FLAG_TTYPE_MASK;
   FAR struct tls_info_s *info;
@@ -103,6 +105,14 @@ int nxtask_init(FAR struct task_tcb_s *tcb, const char *name, int priority,
       return ret;
     }
 
+  /* Duplicate the parent tasks environment */
+
+  ret = env_dup(tcb->cmn.group, envp);
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      goto errout_with_group;
+    }
+
   /* Associate file descriptors with the new task */
 
   ret = group_setuptaskfiles(tcb);
diff --git a/sched/task/task_posixspawn.c b/sched/task/task_posixspawn.c
index 881d604002..6368a85511 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_posixspawn.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_posixspawn.c
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@
 
 static int nxposix_spawn_exec(FAR pid_t *pidp, FAR const char *path,
                               FAR const posix_spawnattr_t *attr,
-                              FAR char * const argv[])
+                              FAR char * const argv[],
+                              FAR char * const envp[])
 {
   FAR const struct symtab_s *symtab;
   int nsymbols;
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ static int nxposix_spawn_exec(FAR pid_t *pidp, FAR const char *path,
 
   /* Start the task */
 
-  pid = exec_spawn(path, (FAR char * const *)argv, symtab, nsymbols, attr);
+  pid = exec_spawn(path, argv, envp, symtab, nsymbols, attr);
   if (pid < 0)
     {
       ret = -pid;
@@ -184,7 +185,8 @@ static int nxposix_spawn_proxy(int argc, FAR char *argv[])
       /* Start the task */
 
       ret = nxposix_spawn_exec(g_spawn_parms.pid, g_spawn_parms.u.posix.path,
-                               g_spawn_parms.attr, g_spawn_parms.argv);
+                               g_spawn_parms.attr, g_spawn_parms.argv,
+                               g_spawn_parms.envp);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SCHED_HAVE_PARENT
       if (ret == OK)
@@ -335,7 +337,7 @@ int posix_spawn(FAR pid_t *pid, FAR const char *path,
   if ((file_actions == NULL || *file_actions == NULL) &&
       (attr == NULL || (attr->flags & POSIX_SPAWN_SETSIGMASK) == 0))
     {
-      return nxposix_spawn_exec(pid, path, attr, argv);
+      return nxposix_spawn_exec(pid, path, attr, argv, envp);
     }
 
   /* Otherwise, we will have to go through an intermediary/proxy task in
@@ -365,6 +367,7 @@ int posix_spawn(FAR pid_t *pid, FAR const char *path,
   g_spawn_parms.file_actions = file_actions ? *file_actions : NULL;
   g_spawn_parms.attr         = attr;
   g_spawn_parms.argv         = argv;
+  g_spawn_parms.envp         = envp;
   g_spawn_parms.u.posix.path = path;
 
   /* Get the priority of this (parent) task */
diff --git a/sched/task/task_spawn.c b/sched/task/task_spawn.c
index 327bf8c6f0..6374a6e873 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_spawn.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_spawn.c
@@ -365,6 +365,7 @@ int task_spawn(FAR const char *name, main_t entry,
   g_spawn_parms.file_actions = file_actions ? *file_actions : NULL;
   g_spawn_parms.attr         = attr;
   g_spawn_parms.argv         = argv;
+  g_spawn_parms.envp         = envp;
   g_spawn_parms.u.task.name  = name;
   g_spawn_parms.u.task.entry = entry;
 
diff --git a/sched/task/task_vfork.c b/sched/task/task_vfork.c
index fe87899d1b..64e1f7d35c 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_vfork.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_vfork.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include <nuttx/tls.h>
 
 #include "sched/sched.h"
+#include "environ/environ.h"
 #include "group/group.h"
 #include "task/task.h"
 
@@ -151,6 +152,14 @@ FAR struct task_tcb_s *nxtask_setup_vfork(start_t retaddr)
       goto errout_with_tcb;
     }
 
+  /* Duplicate the parent tasks environment */
+
+  ret = env_dup(child->cmn.group, get_environ_ptr());
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      goto errout_with_tcb;
+    }
+
   /* Associate file descriptors with the new task */
 
   ret = group_setuptaskfiles(child);