diff --git a/Assistant/Install.hs b/Assistant/Install.hs
index 97f2dee940..6fa30f2507 100644
--- a/Assistant/Install.hs
+++ b/Assistant/Install.hs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ ensureInstalled = go =<< standaloneAppBase
   where
 	go Nothing = noop
 	go (Just base) = do
-		let program = base ++ "runshell git-annex"
+		let program = base <$> "git-annex"
 		programfile <- programFile
 		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir programfile)
 		writeFile programfile program
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 37c322acdf..e2bdd6046e 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ git-annex (3.20121128) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
 
   * webapp: Defaults to sharing box.com account info with friends, allowing
     one-click enabling of the repository.
+  * Fix broken .config/git-annex/program installed by standalone tarball.
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:31:07 -0400
 
diff --git a/doc/bugs/wrong_program_path_in___126____47__.config__47__git-annex__47__program.mdwn b/doc/bugs/wrong_program_path_in___126____47__.config__47__git-annex__47__program.mdwn
index 7d0de0d87b..ae8496a68c 100644
--- a/doc/bugs/wrong_program_path_in___126____47__.config__47__git-annex__47__program.mdwn
+++ b/doc/bugs/wrong_program_path_in___126____47__.config__47__git-annex__47__program.mdwn
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@ git-annex=3.20121127 on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
 ## Please provide any additional information below.
 
 Otherwise it is working great. 
+
+> I've fixed this. [[done]] --[[Joey]] 
diff --git a/standalone/linux/git-annex b/standalone/linux/git-annex
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..cda5b569be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/standalone/linux/git-annex
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+base="$(dirname $0)"
+if [ ! -d "$base" ]; then
+	echo "** cannot find base directory (I seem to be $0)" >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+if [ ! -e "$base/runshell" ]; then
+	echo "** cannot find $base/runshell" >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# Get absolute path to base, to avoid breakage when things change directories.
+orig="$(pwd)"
+cd "$base"
+base="$(pwd)"
+cd "$orig"
+
+# If this is a standalone app, set a variable that git-annex can use to
+# install itself.
+if [ -e "$base/bin/git-annex" ]; then
+	GIT_ANNEX_APP_BASE="$base"
+	export GIT_ANNEX_APP_BASE
+fi
+
+"$base/runshell" git-annex "$@"
diff --git a/standalone/osx/git-annex.app/Contents/MacOS/git-annex b/standalone/osx/git-annex.app/Contents/MacOS/git-annex
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..cda5b569be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/standalone/osx/git-annex.app/Contents/MacOS/git-annex
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+base="$(dirname $0)"
+if [ ! -d "$base" ]; then
+	echo "** cannot find base directory (I seem to be $0)" >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+if [ ! -e "$base/runshell" ]; then
+	echo "** cannot find $base/runshell" >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# Get absolute path to base, to avoid breakage when things change directories.
+orig="$(pwd)"
+cd "$base"
+base="$(pwd)"
+cd "$orig"
+
+# If this is a standalone app, set a variable that git-annex can use to
+# install itself.
+if [ -e "$base/bin/git-annex" ]; then
+	GIT_ANNEX_APP_BASE="$base"
+	export GIT_ANNEX_APP_BASE
+fi
+
+"$base/runshell" git-annex "$@"