diff --git a/ng/ngappinit.cpp b/ng/ngappinit.cpp
index cf2f25b..4bc3bc2 100644
--- a/ng/ngappinit.cpp
+++ b/ng/ngappinit.cpp
@@ -154,9 +154,11 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv)
 
   if (getenv ("NETGENDIR") && strlen (getenv ("NETGENDIR")))
     ngdir = getenv ("NETGENDIR");
-  else
-    ngdir = ".";
-  
+  else {
+    ngdir = "/usr/bin";
+    setenv("NETGENDIR", ngdir.c_str(), 1);
+  }
+
   verbose = parameters.GetDefineFlag ("V");
 
   if (verbose)