diff --git a/mencoder.c b/mencoder.c
index f1588f393e..c3a4029c43 100644
--- a/mencoder.c
+++ b/mencoder.c
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ int decoded_frameno=0;
 
 // check codec.conf
 if(!parse_codec_cfg(get_path("codecs.conf"))){
-  if(!parse_codec_cfg(DATADIR"/codecs.conf")){
+  if(!parse_codec_cfg(CONFDIR"/codecs.conf")){
     mp_msg(MSGT_MENCODER,MSGL_HINT,MSGTR_CopyCodecsConf);
     exit(0);
   }
diff --git a/mplayer.c b/mplayer.c
index 3eaa7d6ab0..5006894ba8 100644
--- a/mplayer.c
+++ b/mplayer.c
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ int gui_no_filename=0;
 
 // check codec.conf
 if(!parse_codec_cfg(get_path("codecs.conf"))){
-  if(!parse_codec_cfg(DATADIR"/codecs.conf")){
+  if(!parse_codec_cfg(CONFDIR"/codecs.conf")){
     mp_msg(MSGT_CPLAYER,MSGL_HINT,MSGTR_CopyCodecsConf);
 //    printf("Exit.\n");
 //    exit(0);  // From unknown reason a hangup occurs here :((((((