diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 71f0661..58373c2 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ add_executable(mikemon
     src/log.cpp
     src/smol-atlas.cpp
     src/math_graphics.cpp
+    src/change_directory.c
     src/shaders/shaders.c
     src/main.cpp
 )
diff --git a/src/change_directory.c b/src/change_directory.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea3a009
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/change_directory.c
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#include "change_directory.h"
+#include <SDL3/SDL_platform.h>
+
+#if SDL_PLATFORM_LINUX
+#include <unistd.h>
+#elif SDL_PLATFORM_WINDOWS
+#include <direct.h>
+#endif
+
+void change_directory(const char *path) {
+    #if SDL_PLATFORM_LINUX
+    chdir(path);
+    #elif SDL_PLATFORM_WINDOWS
+    _chdir(path);
+    #endif
+}
diff --git a/src/change_directory.h b/src/change_directory.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47717e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/change_directory.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#ifndef INCLUDE_CHANGE_DIRECTORY_H
+#define INCLUDE_CHANGE_DIRECTORY_H
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif // __cplusplus
+
+void change_directory(const char *path);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif // __cplusplus
+
+#endif // INCLUDE_CHANGE_DIRECTORY_H
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 428d749..8ef00b7 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -15,12 +15,13 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "math_graphics.h"
 #include "stb_image.h"
+#include "change_directory.h"
 
 #include "shaders/shaders.h"
 
 using namespace M;
 
-#define ASSETS_PATH "../assets/"
+#define ASSETS_PATH "./assets/"
 
 #define NEAR_PLANE (0.01f)
 #define TILE_SIZE  (32)
@@ -1365,8 +1366,23 @@ WGPUSurface create_wgpu_surface_for_SDL_window(SDL_Window *window) {
     return NULL;
 }
 
+void setup_working_directory() {
+    if (SDL_GetPathInfo(ASSETS_PATH, NULL)) return;
+
+    const char *current_directory = SDL_GetCurrentDirectory();
+
+    change_directory(SDL_GetBasePath());
+    if (SDL_GetPathInfo(ASSETS_PATH, NULL)) return;
+
+    change_directory("..");
+    if (SDL_GetPathInfo(ASSETS_PATH, NULL)) return;
+    
+    change_directory(current_directory);
+}
+
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     setup_memory_functions();
+    setup_working_directory();
 
     #ifdef SDL_PLATFORM_LINUX
     if (getenv("ENABLE_VULKAN_RENDERDOC_CAPTURE"))