diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 359d18a..4f8ea4c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ to build a platform-specific launcher executable.
 
 ## Running the launcher
 
+The launcher will need access to the /usr/share/i2p base directory. It will create a .i2p directory for configuration
+files in the current user's home directory if it does not already exist.
+
 `target/router/bin/router`
 
 ## Check that the I2P router is running and that it is listening for SAM connections
diff --git a/bin/build-launcher.sh b/bin/build-launcher.sh
index a850ede..c96b40e 100755
--- a/bin/build-launcher.sh
+++ b/bin/build-launcher.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-basedir=`dirname $0`/..
+basedir=$(dirname $(dirname $(readlink -fm $0)))
 
 # convert the jar files from an existing I2P built into modules suitable for use with jlink
 $basedir/bin/convert-jars-to-modules.sh
diff --git a/bin/convert-jars-to-modules.sh b/bin/convert-jars-to-modules.sh
index f09601d..83a1b88 100755
--- a/bin/convert-jars-to-modules.sh
+++ b/bin/convert-jars-to-modules.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-basedir=`dirname $0`/..
+basedir=$(dirname $(dirname $(readlink -fm $0)))
 
 jarPaths=`find $basedir/import/lib -name '*.jar'`