diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js
index 4fe42d839..02b976a32 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/flows/Flow.js
@@ -268,6 +268,9 @@ class Flow {
                             try {
                                 var subflowDefinition = this.flow.subflows[node.subflow]||this.global.subflows[node.subflow]
                                 // console.log("NEED TO CREATE A SUBFLOW",id,node.subflow);
+                                // Ensure the path property is set on the instance node so NR_SUBFLOW_PATH env is evaluated properly
+                                Object.defineProperty(node,'_path', {value: `${this.path}/${node._alias||node.id}`, enumerable: false, writable: true })
+
                                 this.subflowInstanceNodes[id] = true;
                                 var subflow = Subflow.create(
                                     this,