diff --git a/setup/install.py b/setup/install.py
index 0ac23582c7..4aab6a4761 100644
--- a/setup/install.py
+++ b/setup/install.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ sys.path.insert(0, path)
 
 sys.resources_location = os.environ.get('CALIBRE_RESOURCES_PATH', {resources!r})
 sys.extensions_location = os.environ.get('CALIBRE_EXTENSIONS_PATH', {extensions!r})
+sys.executables_location = os.environ.get('CALIBRE_EXECUTABLES_PATH', {executables!r})
 
 '''
 
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ class Develop(Command):
         script = template.format(
                 module=mod, func=func,
                 path=self.libdir, resources=self.sharedir,
+                executables=self.staging_bindir,
                 extensions=self.j(self.libdir, 'calibre', 'plugins'))
         path = self.j(self.staging_bindir, name)
         if not os.path.exists(self.staging_bindir):
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/ipc/launch.py b/src/calibre/utils/ipc/launch.py
index 0432143ae2..dbabfe86b2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/ipc/launch.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/ipc/launch.py
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ class Worker(object):
             return os.path.join(contents, 'MacOS', self.osx_interpreter)
 
         return os.path.join(getattr(sys, 'frozen_path'), 'calibre-parallel') \
-                            if isfrozen else 'calibre-parallel'
+                            if isfrozen else \
+               os.path.join(sys.executables_location, 'calibre-parallel')
 
     @property
     def gui_executable(self):