--- a/dist/pathnames.h.in
+++ b/dist/pathnames.h.in
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef	_PATH_MSGCAT
-#define	_PATH_MSGCAT	"./"
+#define	_PATH_MSGCAT	"/usr/share/vi/catalog/"
 #endif
 
 #ifndef	_PATH_NEXRC
