diff --git a/pd/nw/index.js b/pd/nw/index.js
index 8ceebe5d0295bac4047a213c0c0076864d6a78e3..09249b5a56b1724c682764cf18772118926fa055 100644
--- a/pd/nw/index.js
+++ b/pd/nw/index.js
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ var pd_menus = require("./pd_menus.js");
 // HOME instead.
 var pwd = process.env.PWD !== undefined ? process.env.PWD : process.env.HOME;
 
+// Windows doesn't have either of the environment variables above, so we
+// compromise atm with HOMEPATH.
+if (!pwd) {
+    pwd = process.env.HOMEPATH;
+}
+
 // gui preset
 pdgui.skin.apply(window);