diff --git a/neo/sys/linux/main.cpp b/neo/sys/linux/main.cpp
index d4b52b08..01cb25fb 100644
--- a/neo/sys/linux/main.cpp
+++ b/neo/sys/linux/main.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ bool Sys_GetPath(sysPath_t type, idStr &path) {
 		// try next to the executable..
 		if (Sys_GetPath(PATH_EXE, path)) {
 			path = path.StripFilename();
-			if (stat(path.c_str(), &st) != -1 && S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
+			// the path should have a base dir in it, otherwise it probably just contains the executable
+			idStr testPath = path + "/" BASE_GAMEDIR;
+			if (stat(testPath.c_str(), &st) != -1 && S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
 				common->Warning("using path of executable: %s", path.c_str());
 				return true;
 			} else {
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ bool Sys_GetPath(sysPath_t type, idStr &path) {
 
 		// fallback to vanilla doom3 install
 		if (stat(LINUX_DEFAULT_PATH, &st) != -1 && S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
-			common->Warning("using hardcoded default base path");
+			common->Warning("using hardcoded default base path: " LINUX_DEFAULT_PATH);
 
 			path = LINUX_DEFAULT_PATH;
 			return true;