diff --git a/code/ryzom/tools/client/client_patcher/main.cpp b/code/ryzom/tools/client/client_patcher/main.cpp
index 3eb779ed6..052bd40d2 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/tools/client/client_patcher/main.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/tools/client/client_patcher/main.cpp
@@ -160,6 +160,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	std::string config = "client.cfg";
 
+	// if client.cfg is not in current directory, use client.cfg from user directory
+	if (!CFile::isExists(config))
+		config = CPath::getApplicationDirectory("Ryzom") + config;
+
 	// if client.cfg is not in current directory, use client_default.cfg
 	if (!CFile::isExists(config))
 		config = "client_default.cfg";