diff --git a/init.vim b/init.vim
index 1bf2c47..6dd8739 100644
--- a/init.vim
+++ b/init.vim
@@ -9,13 +9,11 @@
 "                                                             "
 "============================================================="
 
-"darkcloud neovim config folder path: {{{
-    "the location of darkcloud-nvimconfig (default is /etc/darkcloud-nvimconfig)
-    let g:darkcloudpath = get(g:, "darkcloudpath", "/etc/darkcloud-nvimconfig")
-"}}}
+"load config path
+exec 'source ' . expand('<sfile>:p:h') . '/local/path.vim'
 
 "add config directory: (distro-agnostic system-wide)
-let &runtimepath = printf("%s,%s/vim,%s/vim/after,%s/local", &runtimepath, g:darkcloudpath, g:darkcloudpath, g:darkcloudpath)
+let &runtimepath = printf("%s,%s/vim,%s/local", &runtimepath, g:darkcloudpath, g:darkcloudpath)
 
 "load colours
 runtime colors/palette.vim
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 137cae0..95b2f3a 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ A theme, config and collection of plugins for Neovim
 ## Installation
 
 1. Clone the darkcloud-nvimconfig repo and run the `update` script
-2. By default darkcloud-nvimconfig expects to be installed @ `/etc/darkcloud-nvimconfig`, if you're installing it elsewhere you should add `let g:darkcloudpath = "/path/to/darkcloud-nvimconfig"` to your neovim init
-3. Add `source /path/to/darkcloud-nvimconfig/init.vim` to your neovim init (after `let g:darkcloudpath = ...` if present)
+2. Add `source /path/to/darkcloud-nvimconfig/init.vim` to your neovim init
 
 ## Configuration
 
diff --git a/update b/update
index 6da3c84..bd56269 100755
--- a/update
+++ b/update
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #
 
 user_vim_config=local/user.vim
+path_config=local/path.vim
 local_bundle_dir=local/bundle
 error_log=update-errors.log
 
@@ -124,6 +125,9 @@ printf '\n%s\n' "$cbg_black ~~~ DarkCloud Neovim Config Update Tool ~~~ $c_reset
     fi
 }
 
+# create or update path.vim
+printf '%s\n' "let g:darkcloudpath = \"$(readlink -f "$script_home")\"" > "$path_config"
+
 # create user.vim if it doesn't exist
 [[ -e "$user_vim_config" ]] || {
     printf '\n%s' "$cbg_blue >> Creating user config file:$c_reset"