diff --git a/src/compress_pptx/__main__.py b/src/compress_pptx/__main__.py
index 433b6d8..f86c2e2 100644
--- a/src/compress_pptx/__main__.py
+++ b/src/compress_pptx/__main__.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def main():
         "--ffmpeg-path",
         type=str,
         help="Path to ffmpeg executable",
-        default="ffmpeg",
+        default="@ffmpeg@",
     )
     cli_args = parser.parse_args()
 
diff --git a/src/compress_pptx/compress_pptx.py b/src/compress_pptx/compress_pptx.py
index 0cb5b42..0845aef 100644
--- a/src/compress_pptx/compress_pptx.py
+++ b/src/compress_pptx/compress_pptx.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class CompressPptx:
         ffmpeg_video_codec: Optional[str] = None,
         ffmpeg_audio_codec: Optional[str] = None,
         ffmpeg_extra_options: Optional[str] = None,
-        ffmpeg_path: str = "ffmpeg",
+        ffmpeg_path: str = "@ffmpeg@",
     ) -> None:
         """
         Compress images in a PowerPoint file or extract media.
@@ -187,19 +187,9 @@ class CompressPptx:
 
         self.file_list: List[FileObj] = []
 
-        # Check for ImageMagick - prefer 'magick' but fall back to 'convert'/'identify'
-        if which("magick") is not None:
-            self.magick_cmd = "magick"
-            self.convert_cmd = ["magick", "convert"]
-            self.identify_cmd = ["magick", "identify"]
-        elif which("convert") is not None and which("identify") is not None:
-            self.magick_cmd = "convert"
-            self.convert_cmd = ["convert"]
-            self.identify_cmd = ["identify"]
-        else:
-            raise CompressPptxError(
-                "ImageMagick not found in PATH. Make sure you have installed ImageMagick and that either 'magick' or 'convert'/'identify' commands are available."
-            )
+        self.magick_cmd = "@magick@"
+        self.convert_cmd = ["@magick@", "convert"]
+        self.identify_cmd = ["@magick@", "identify"]
 
         required_executables = []
         # add ffmpeg to required executables if user wants media files to be compressed