diff --git a/main.hs b/main.hs
index a876e5d..a0a567f 100644
--- a/main.hs
+++ b/main.hs
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import System.Console.CmdArgs
 import System.Environment (getArgs, withArgs)
 import Control.Monad      (when)
 
+import Paths_alea (getDataFileName)
+
 import Diceware
 import Random
 
@@ -46,8 +48,9 @@ main = do
 
 exec :: Args -> IO ()
 exec opts@Args{..} = do
-	file <- readFile dictionary'
 	opts <- getProgArgs
+	defaultDict <- getDataFileName "diceware"
+	file <- readFile (if null dictionary then defaultDict else dictionary)
 	if interactive
 		then interact (unlines . map (dice file) . lines)
 		else do
@@ -60,4 +63,3 @@ exec opts@Args{..} = do
 		dice' x n = readDiceware' (parseDiceware x) n
 		-- default arguments
 		phraseLength' = if phraseLength == 0 then 6 else phraseLength
-		dictionary' = if null dictionary then "diceware" else dictionary