diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3df887b46..7a2c86e02 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -27,15 +27,17 @@ if platform.system() in ['Linux', 'FreeBSD', 'DragonFly']:
     parser.add_argument('--root=', dest='root_path', metavar='dir', default='/')
     opts, _ = parser.parse_known_args(sys.argv[1:])
     usr_share = os.path.join(sys.prefix, "share")
+    icons_dirname = 'pixmaps'
     if not os.access(opts.root_path + usr_share, os.W_OK) and \
        not os.access(opts.root_path, os.W_OK):
+        icons_dirname = 'icons'
         if 'XDG_DATA_HOME' in os.environ.keys():
             usr_share = os.environ['XDG_DATA_HOME']
         else:
             usr_share = os.path.expanduser('~/.local/share')
     data_files += [
         (os.path.join(usr_share, 'applications/'), ['electrum.desktop']),
-        (os.path.join(usr_share, 'pixmaps/'), ['icons/electrum.png'])
+        (os.path.join(usr_share, icons_dirname), ['icons/electrum.png'])
     ]
 
 setup(