diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 9336e8a..60c5bea 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -977,8 +977,7 @@ const path = __importStar(__webpack_require__(622));
 const io = __importStar(__webpack_require__(1));
 const IS_WINDOWS = process.platform === 'win32';
 const VS_VERSION = core.getInput('vs-version') || 'latest';
-const VSWHERE_PATH = core.getInput('vswhere-path') ||
-    path.join(process.env['ProgramFiles(x86)'], 'Microsoft Visual Studio\\Installer');
+const VSWHERE_PATH = core.getInput('vswhere-path');
 // if a specific version of VS is requested
 let VSWHERE_EXEC = '-products * -requires Microsoft.Component.MSBuild -property installationPath -latest ';
 if (VS_VERSION !== 'latest') {
@@ -1007,12 +1006,17 @@ function run() {
                     vswhereToolExe = path.join(vsWhereInPath, 'vswhere.exe');
                 }
                 catch (_a) {
-                    // wasn't found because which threw
-                }
-                finally {
-                    core.setFailed('setup-msbuild requires the path to where vswhere.exe exists');
+                    // check for VS-installed path
+                    const vsWhereInInstallerPath = path.join(process.env['ProgramFiles(x86)'], 'Microsoft Visual Studio\\Installer\\vswhere.exe');
+                    if (fs.existsSync(vsWhereInInstallerPath)) {
+                        vswhereToolExe = vsWhereInInstallerPath;
+                    }
                 }
             }
+            if (!fs.existsSync(vswhereToolExe)) {
+                core.setFailed('setup-msbuild requires the path to where vswhere.exe exists');
+                return;
+            }
             core.debug(`Full tool exe: ${vswhereToolExe}`);
             let foundToolPath = '';
             const options = {};
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index de308d8..fe16239 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -7,12 +7,7 @@ import {ExecOptions} from '@actions/exec/lib/interfaces'
 
 const IS_WINDOWS = process.platform === 'win32'
 const VS_VERSION = core.getInput('vs-version') || 'latest'
-const VSWHERE_PATH =
-  core.getInput('vswhere-path') ||
-  path.join(
-    process.env['ProgramFiles(x86)'] as string,
-    'Microsoft Visual Studio\\Installer'
-  )
+const VSWHERE_PATH = core.getInput('vswhere-path')
 
 // if a specific version of VS is requested
 let VSWHERE_EXEC = '-products * -requires Microsoft.Component.MSBuild -property installationPath -latest '
@@ -43,14 +38,26 @@ async function run(): Promise<void> {
         core.debug(`Found tool in PATH: ${vsWhereInPath}`)
         vswhereToolExe = path.join(vsWhereInPath, 'vswhere.exe')
       } catch {
-        // wasn't found because which threw
-      } finally {
-        core.setFailed(
-          'setup-msbuild requires the path to where vswhere.exe exists'
+        // check for VS-installed path
+        const vsWhereInInstallerPath = path.join(
+          process.env['ProgramFiles(x86)'] as string,
+          'Microsoft Visual Studio\\Installer\\vswhere.exe'
         )
+
+        if (fs.existsSync(vsWhereInInstallerPath)) {
+          vswhereToolExe = vsWhereInInstallerPath
+        }
       }
     }
 
+    if (!fs.existsSync(vswhereToolExe)) {
+      core.setFailed(
+        'setup-msbuild requires the path to where vswhere.exe exists'
+      )
+
+      return
+    }
+
     core.debug(`Full tool exe: ${vswhereToolExe}`)
 
     let foundToolPath = ''