diff --git a/apps/app/src/main.rs b/apps/app/src/main.rs
index 4f0be0e..4510a65 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/app/src/main.rs
@@ -324,12 +324,9 @@ async fn initialize_state(app: tauri::AppHandle) -> api::Result<()> {
 /// external game-directory root for the one-click StarLight install flow.
 #[tauri::command]
 fn get_launcher_root_dir() -> api::Result<String> {
-    let exe = std::env::current_exe().map_err(|error| {
-        theseus::Error::from(theseus::ErrorKind::FSError(error.to_string()))
-    })?;
-    let dir = exe.parent().ok_or_else(|| {
+    let dir = theseus::default_game_dir_root().ok_or_else(|| {
         theseus::Error::from(theseus::ErrorKind::FSError(
-            "Launcher executable has no parent directory".to_string(),
+            "Could not determine a default game directory root".to_string(),
         ))
     })?;
     Ok(dir.to_string_lossy().into_owned())
diff --git a/packages/app-lib/src/lib.rs b/packages/app-lib/src/lib.rs
index 7c9da96..31bcdd0 100644
--- a/packages/app-lib/src/lib.rs
+++ b/packages/app-lib/src/lib.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ pub use state::{DirectoryInfo, State};
 pub use storage::*;
 pub use util::fetch::build_proxied_client;
 pub use util::file_lock::{LockingProcess, get_locking_processes};
-pub use util::platform::is_process_elevated;
+pub use util::platform::{default_game_dir_root, is_process_elevated};
 pub use util::proxy::{ProxyConfig, ProxyMode, ProxyTestResult};
 pub use util::symlink::SymlinkCapability;
 
diff --git a/packages/app-lib/src/util/platform.rs b/packages/app-lib/src/util/platform.rs
index 1c381b4..0003cd8 100644
--- a/packages/app-lib/src/util/platform.rs
+++ b/packages/app-lib/src/util/platform.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! Platform-related code
 use daedalus::minecraft::{Os, OsRule};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 /// (e.g. "Run as administrator" on Windows).
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
@@ -143,3 +144,31 @@ pub fn classpath_separator(java_arch: &str) -> &'static str {
         Os::Windows | Os::WindowsArm64 => ";",
     }
 }
+
+/// Root directory used as the default for one-click StarLight instance
+/// installs. Portable builds live next to their executable, which is a fine
+/// place for game data. System installs (e.g. a Linux `.deb` under `/usr/bin`)
+/// do not, so fall back to the user's home directory there.
+pub fn default_game_dir_root() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    let exe_dir = std::env::current_exe().ok()?.parent()?.to_path_buf();
+    if cfg!(target_os = "linux") && is_system_install_dir(&exe_dir) {
+        return dirs::home_dir();
+    }
+    Some(exe_dir)
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+fn is_system_install_dir(path: &std::path::Path) -> bool {
+    const SYSTEM_PREFIXES: &[&str] = &[
+        "/usr/", "/opt/", "/snap/", "/bin/", "/sbin/", "/lib/", "/lib64/",
+    ];
+    let display = path.to_string_lossy();
+    SYSTEM_PREFIXES
+        .iter()
+        .any(|prefix| display.starts_with(prefix))
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+fn is_system_install_dir(_path: &std::path::Path) -> bool {
+    false
+}