diff --git a/legacy/embryo/src/bin/Makefile.am b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/Makefile.am
index 5850b988ae..0d271f9887 100644
--- a/legacy/embryo/src/bin/Makefile.am
+++ b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/Makefile.am
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ embryo_cc_sc6.c \
 embryo_cc_sc7.c \
 embryo_cc_scexpand.c \
 embryo_cc_sclist.c \
-embryo_cc_scvars.c
+embryo_cc_scvars.c \
+embryo_cc_prefix.c \
+embryo_cc_prefix.h
 
 embryo_cc_LDADD = 
 embryo_cc_DEPENDENCIES = 
diff --git a/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_prefix.c b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_prefix.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3033d06d23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_prefix.c
@@ -0,0 +1,442 @@
+/*
+ * vim:ts=8:sw=3:sts=8:noexpandtab:cino=>5n-3f0^-2{2
+ */
+#include "config.h"
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <dirent.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <sys/time.h>
+#include <sys/param.h>
+#include <dlfcn.h>
+#include <math.h>
+#include <fnmatch.h>
+#include <limits.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <time.h>
+#include <dirent.h>
+#include <pwd.h>
+#include <grp.h>
+#include <glob.h>
+#include "embryo_cc_prefix.h"
+
+/* local subsystem functions */
+static int _e_prefix_share_hunt(void);
+static int _e_prefix_fallbacks(void);
+static int _e_prefix_try_proc(void);
+static int _e_prefix_try_argv(char *argv0);
+
+/* local subsystem globals */
+static char *_exe_path = NULL;
+static char *_prefix_path = NULL;
+static char *_prefix_path_bin = NULL;
+static char *_prefix_path_data = NULL;
+static char *_prefix_path_lib = NULL;
+
+#define E_FREE(p) { if (p) {free(p); p = NULL;} }
+
+/*#define PREFIX_CACHE_FILE 1*/
+#define SHARE_D "share/embryo"
+#define MAGIC_FILE "include/default.inc"
+#define MAGIC_DAT SHARE_D"/"MAGIC_FILE
+
+/* externally accessible functions */
+int
+e_prefix_determine(char *argv0)
+{
+   char *p, buf[4096];
+   struct stat st;
+
+   e_prefix_shutdown();
+
+   /* if user provides E_PREFIX - then use that or also more specific sub
+    * dirs for bin, lib, data and locale */
+   if (getenv("E_PREFIX"))
+     {
+	_prefix_path = strdup(getenv("E_PREFIX"));
+	if (getenv("E_BIN_DIR"))
+	  _prefix_path_bin = strdup(getenv("E_BIN_DIR"));
+	else
+	  {
+	     snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/bin", _prefix_path);
+	     _prefix_path_bin = strdup(buf);
+	  }
+	if (getenv("E_LIB_DIR"))
+	  _prefix_path_bin = strdup(getenv("E_LIB_DIR"));
+	else
+	  {
+	     snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/lib", _prefix_path);
+	     _prefix_path_lib = strdup(buf);
+	  }
+	if (getenv("E_DATA_DIR"))
+	  _prefix_path_data = strdup(getenv("E_DATA_DIR"));
+	else
+	  {
+	     snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/"SHARE_D, _prefix_path);
+	     _prefix_path_data = strdup(buf);
+	  }
+	return 1;
+     }
+   /* no env var - examine process and possible argv0 */
+   if (!_e_prefix_try_proc())
+     {
+	if (!_e_prefix_try_argv(argv0))
+	  {
+	     _e_prefix_fallbacks();
+	     return 0;
+	  }
+     }
+   /* _exe_path is now a full absolute path TO this exe - figure out rest */
+   /*   if
+    * exe        = /blah/whatever/bin/exe
+    *   then
+    * prefix     = /blah/whatever
+    * bin_dir    = /blah/whatever/bin
+    * data_dir   = /blah/whatever/share/enlightenment
+    * lib_dir    = /blah/whatever/lib
+    */
+   p = strrchr(_exe_path, '/');
+   if (p)
+     {
+	p--;
+	while (p >= _exe_path)
+	  {
+	     if (*p == '/')
+	       {
+		  _prefix_path = malloc(p - _exe_path + 1);
+		  if (_prefix_path)
+		    {
+		       strncpy(_prefix_path, _exe_path, p - _exe_path);
+		       _prefix_path[p - _exe_path] = 0;
+
+		       /* bin and lib always together */
+		       snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/bin", _prefix_path);
+		       _prefix_path_bin = strdup(buf);
+		       snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/lib", _prefix_path);
+		       _prefix_path_lib = strdup(buf);
+		       
+		       /* check if AUTHORS file is there - then our guess is right */
+		       snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/"MAGIC_DAT, _prefix_path);
+		       if (stat(buf, &st) == 0)
+			 {
+			    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/"SHARE_D, _prefix_path);
+			    _prefix_path_data = strdup(buf);
+			 }
+		       /* AUTHORS file not there. time to start hunting! */
+		       else
+			 {
+			    if (_e_prefix_share_hunt())
+			      {
+				 return 1;
+			      }
+			    else
+			      {
+				 e_prefix_fallback();
+				 return 0;
+			      }
+			 }
+		       return 1;
+		    }
+		  else
+		    {
+		       e_prefix_fallback();
+		       return 0;
+		    }
+	       }
+	     p--;
+	  }
+     }
+   e_prefix_fallback();
+   return 0;
+}
+
+void
+e_prefix_shutdown(void)
+{
+   E_FREE(_exe_path);
+   E_FREE(_prefix_path);
+   E_FREE(_prefix_path_bin);
+   E_FREE(_prefix_path_data);
+   E_FREE(_prefix_path_lib);
+}
+   
+void
+e_prefix_fallback(void)
+{
+   e_prefix_shutdown();
+   _e_prefix_fallbacks();
+}
+
+const char *
+e_prefix_get(void)
+{
+   return _prefix_path;
+}
+
+const char *
+e_prefix_bin_get(void)
+{
+   return _prefix_path_bin;
+}
+
+const char *
+e_prefix_data_get(void)
+{
+   return _prefix_path_data;
+}
+
+const char *
+e_prefix_lib_get(void)
+{
+   return _prefix_path_lib;
+}
+
+/* local subsystem functions */
+static int
+_e_prefix_share_hunt(void)
+{
+   char buf[4096], buf2[4096], *p;
+   FILE *f;
+   struct stat st;
+
+   /* sometimes this isnt the case - so we need to do a more exhaustive search
+    * through more parent and subdirs. hre is an example i have seen:
+    * 
+    * /blah/whatever/exec/bin/exe
+    * ->
+    * /blah/whatever/exec/bin
+    * /blah/whatever/common/share/enlightenment
+    * /blah/whatever/exec/lib
+    */
+   
+   /* this is pure black magic to try and find data shares */
+   /* 2. cache file doesn't exist or is invalid - we need to search - this is
+    * where the real black magic begins */
+   
+   /* BLACK MAGIC 1:
+    * /blah/whatever/dir1/bin
+    * /blah/whatever/dir2/share/enlightenment
+    */
+   if (!_prefix_path_data)
+     {
+	DIR                *dirp;
+	struct dirent      *dp;
+	
+	snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s", _prefix_path);
+	p = strrchr(buf, '/');
+	if (p) *p = 0;
+	dirp = opendir(buf);
+	if (dirp)
+	  {
+	     char *file;
+	     
+	     while ((dp = readdir(dirp)))
+	       {
+		  if ((strcmp(dp->d_name, ".")) && (strcmp(dp->d_name, "..")))
+		    {
+		       file = dp->d_name;
+		       snprintf(buf2, sizeof(buf2), "%s/%s/"MAGIC_DAT, buf, file);
+		       if (stat(buf2, &st) == 0)
+			 {
+			    snprintf(buf2, sizeof(buf2), "%s/%s/"SHARE_D, buf, file);
+			    _prefix_path_data = strdup(buf2);
+			    break;
+			 }
+		    }
+	       }
+	     closedir(dirp);
+	  }
+     }
+   
+   /* BLACK MAGIC 2:
+    * /blah/whatever/dir1/bin
+    * /blah/whatever/share/enlightenment
+    */
+   if (!_prefix_path_data)
+     {
+	snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s", _prefix_path);
+	p = strrchr(buf, '/');
+	if (p) *p = 0;
+	snprintf(buf2, sizeof(buf2), "%s/"MAGIC_DAT, buf);
+	if (stat(buf, &st) == 0)
+	  {
+	     snprintf(buf2, sizeof(buf2), "%s/"SHARE_D, buf);
+	     _prefix_path_data = strdup(buf2);
+	  }
+     }
+   
+   /* add more black magic as required as we discover weridnesss - remember
+    * this is to save users having to set environment variables to tell
+    * e where it lives, so e auto-adapts. so these code snippets are just
+    * logic to figure that out for the user
+    */
+   
+   /* done. we found it - write cache file */
+   if (_prefix_path_data)
+     {
+	return 1;
+     }
+   /* fail. everything failed */
+   return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+_e_prefix_fallbacks(void)
+{
+   char *p;
+
+   _prefix_path = strdup(PACKAGE_BIN_DIR);
+   p = strrchr(_prefix_path, '/');
+   if (p) *p = 0;
+   _prefix_path_bin    = strdup(PACKAGE_BIN_DIR);
+   _prefix_path_data   = strdup(PACKAGE_DATA_DIR);
+   _prefix_path_lib    = strdup(PACKAGE_LIB_DIR);
+   printf("WARNING: Embryo could not determine its installed prefix\n"
+	  "         and is falling back on the compiled in default:\n"
+	  "           %s\n", 
+	  "         You might like to try setting the following environment variables:\n"
+	  "           E_PREFIX     - points to the base prefix of install\n"
+	  "           E_BIN_DIR    - optional in addition to E_PREFIX to provide\n"
+	  "                          a more specific binary directory\n"
+	  "           E_LIB_DIR    - optional in addition to E_PREFIX to provide\n"
+	  "                          a more specific library dir\n"
+	  "           E_DATA_DIR   - optional in addition to E_PREFIX to provide\n"
+	  "                          a more specific location for shared data\n"
+	  ,
+	  _prefix_path);
+   return 1;
+}
+
+static int
+_e_prefix_try_proc(void)
+{
+   FILE *f;
+   char buf[4096];
+   void *func = NULL;
+
+   func = (void *)_e_prefix_try_proc;
+   f = fopen("/proc/self/maps", "r");
+   if (!f) return 0;
+   while (fgets(buf, sizeof(buf), f))
+     {
+	int len;
+	char *p, mode[5] = "";
+	unsigned long ptr1 = 0, ptr2 = 0;
+	
+	len = strlen(buf);
+	if (buf[len - 1] == '\n')
+	  {
+	     buf[len - 1] = 0;
+	     len--;
+	  }
+	if (sscanf(buf, "%lx-%lx %4s", &ptr1, &ptr2, mode) == 3)
+	  {
+	     if (!strcmp(mode, "r-xp"))
+	       {
+		  if (((void *)ptr1 <= func) && (func < (void *)ptr2))
+		    {
+		       p = strchr(buf, '/');
+		       if (p)
+			 {
+			    if (len > 10)
+			      {
+				 if (!strcmp(buf + len - 10, " (deleted)"))
+				   buf[len - 10] = 0;
+			      }
+			    _exe_path = strdup(p);
+			    fclose(f);
+			    return 1;
+			 }
+		       else
+			 break;
+		    }
+	       }
+	  }
+     }
+   fclose(f);
+   return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+_e_prefix_try_argv(char *argv0)
+{
+   char *path, *p, *cp, *s;
+   int len, lenexe;
+   char buf[4096], buf2[4096], buf3[4096];
+   
+   /* 1. is argv0 abs path? */
+   if (argv0[0] == '/')
+     {
+	_exe_path = strdup(argv0);
+	if (access(_exe_path, X_OK) == 0) return 1;
+	free(_exe_path);
+	_exe_path = NULL;
+	return 0;
+     }
+   /* 2. relative path */
+   if (strchr(argv0, '/'))
+     {
+	if (getcwd(buf3, sizeof(buf3)))
+	  {
+	     snprintf(buf2, sizeof(buf2), "%s/%s", buf3, argv0);
+	     if (realpath(buf2, buf))
+	       {
+		  _exe_path = strdup(buf);
+		  if (access(_exe_path, X_OK) == 0) return 1;
+		  free(_exe_path);
+		  _exe_path = NULL;
+	       }
+	  }
+     }
+   /* 3. argv0 no path - look in PATH */
+   path = getenv("PATH");
+   if (!path) return 0;
+   p = path;
+   cp = p;
+   lenexe = strlen(argv0);
+   while ((p = strchr(cp, ':')))
+     {
+	len = p - cp;
+	s = malloc(len + 1 + lenexe + 1);
+	if (s)
+	  {
+	     strncpy(s, cp, len);
+	     s[len] = '/';
+	     strcpy(s + len + 1, argv0);
+	     if (realpath(s, buf))
+	       {
+		  if (access(buf, X_OK) == 0)
+		    {
+		       _exe_path = strdup(buf);
+		       free(s);
+		       return 1;
+		    }
+	       }
+	     free(s);
+	  }
+        cp = p + 1;
+     }
+   len = strlen(cp);
+   s = malloc(len + 1 + lenexe + 1);
+   if (s)
+     {
+	strncpy(s, cp, len);
+	s[len] = '/';
+	strcpy(s + len + 1, argv0);
+	if (realpath(s, buf))
+	  {
+	     if (access(buf, X_OK) == 0)
+	       {
+		  _exe_path = strdup(buf);
+		  free(s);
+		  return 1;
+	       }
+	  }
+	free(s);
+     }
+   /* 4. big problems. arg[0] != executable - weird execution */
+   return 0;
+}
diff --git a/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_prefix.h b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_prefix.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4bea3f9188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_prefix.h
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/*
+ * vim:ts=8:sw=3:sts=8:noexpandtab:cino=>5n-3f0^-2{2
+ */
+
+int         e_prefix_determine(char *argv0);
+void        e_prefix_shutdown(void);
+void        e_prefix_fallback(void);
+const char *e_prefix_get(void);
+const char *e_prefix_bin_get(void);
+const char *e_prefix_data_get(void);
+const char *e_prefix_lib_get(void);
diff --git a/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_sc1.c b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_sc1.c
index 4b55ed5346..8f1ab347f4 100644
--- a/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_sc1.c
+++ b/legacy/embryo/src/bin/embryo_cc_sc1.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include "embryo_cc_osdefs.h"
 #include "embryo_cc_sc.h"
+#include "embryo_cc_prefix.h"
 
 #define VERSION_STR "2.4"
 #define VERSION_INT 240
@@ -135,6 +136,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[], char *env[])
 	   snprintf(argv0, _MAX_PATH, "%s/%s", pwd, argv[0]);
      }				/* if */
    argv[0] = argv0;		/* set location to new first parameter */
+   
+   e_prefix_determine(argv0);
 
    return sc_compile(argc, argv);
 }
@@ -592,8 +595,9 @@ parseoptions(int argc, char **argv, char *iname, char *oname,
    size_t len;
 
    /* use embryo include dir always */
-   insert_path(PACKAGE_DATA_DIR "/include/");
-   insert_path(PACKAGE_DATA_DIR "./");
+   snprintf(str, sizeof(str), "%s/include/", e_prefix_data_get());
+   insert_path(str);
+   insert_path("./");
 
    for (i = 1; i < argc; i++)
    {