Index: helix-loader/src/lib.rs
--- helix-loader/src/lib.rs.orig
+++ helix-loader/src/lib.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ pub fn runtime_dir() -> PathBuf {
         return conf_dir;
     }
 
+    let data_dir = std::path::PathBuf::from("%%DATADIR%%").join(RT_DIR);
+    if data_dir.exists() {
+        return data_dir;
+    }
+
     // fallback to location of the executable being run
     // canonicalize the path in case the executable is symlinked
     std::env::current_exe()
