diff --git a/etc/opensc.conf.in b/etc/opensc.conf.in
index 78b8c5b2..e84f8f0f 100644
--- a/etc/opensc.conf.in
+++ b/etc/opensc.conf.in
@@ -32,8 +32,9 @@ app default {
 
 	# PKCS#15 initialization / personalization
 	# profiles directory for pkcs15-init.
-	
-	profile_dir = @pkgdatadir@;
+	# Default: @pkgdatadir@
+	#
+	# profile_dir = @pkgdatadir@;
 
 	# What reader drivers to load at start-up
 	#
diff --git a/src/pkcs15init/profile.c b/src/pkcs15init/profile.c
index 944c4b4e..0a3c2f05 100644
--- a/src/pkcs15init/profile.c
+++ b/src/pkcs15init/profile.c
@@ -300,9 +300,10 @@ sc_profile_load(struct sc_profile *profile, const char *filename)
 	}
 
 	if (!profile_dir) {
-		sc_error(ctx, "you need to set profile_dir in your config file.");
-		return SC_ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND;
-	 }
+		profile_dir = SC_PKCS15_PROFILE_DIRECTORY;
+	}
+
+	sc_debug(ctx, "Using profile directory '%s'.", profile_dir);
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
 	snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s\\%s.%s",