diff --git a/kcm/main.c b/kcm/main.c
index 3645dd811..155983ac1 100644
--- a/kcm/main.c
+++ b/kcm/main.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 RCSID("$Id$");
 
 krb5_context kcm_context = NULL;
+extern const char *socket_path;
 
 const char *service_name = "org.h5l.kcm";
 
@@ -90,6 +91,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
         daemon_child = roken_detach_prep(argc, argv, "--daemon-child");
     rk_pidfile(NULL);
 
+    if (socket_path)
+        setenv("HEIM_IPC_DIR", socket_path, 1);
+
     if (launchd_flag) {
 	heim_sipc mach;
 	ret = heim_sipc_launchd_mach_init(service_name, kcm_service, NULL, &mach);