diff --git a/client/main.cpp b/client/main.cpp
index 94d3baf..65864f0 100644
--- a/client/main.cpp
+++ b/client/main.cpp
@@ -38,23 +38,11 @@ extern ProtocolWidgetFactory *OstProtocolWidgetFactory;
 QSettings *appSettings;
 QMainWindow *mainWindow;
 
-#if defined(Q_OS_WIN32)
-QString kGzipPathDefaultValue;
-QString kDiffPathDefaultValue;
-QString kAwkPathDefaultValue;
-#endif
-
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
     QApplication app(argc, argv);
     int exitCode;
 
-#if defined(Q_OS_WIN32)
-    kGzipPathDefaultValue = app.applicationDirPath() + "/gzip.exe";
-    kDiffPathDefaultValue = app.applicationDirPath() + "/diff.exe";
-    kAwkPathDefaultValue = app.applicationDirPath() + "/gawk.exe";
-#endif
-
     app.setApplicationName("Ostinato");
     app.setOrganizationName("Ostinato");
     app.setProperty("version", version);
diff --git a/client/preferences.cpp b/client/preferences.cpp
index cbd9a58..06a18b1 100644
--- a/client/preferences.cpp
+++ b/client/preferences.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>
 #include <QFileDialog>
 #include <QtGlobal>
 
+#if defined(Q_OS_WIN32)
+QString kGzipPathDefaultValue;
+QString kDiffPathDefaultValue;
+QString kAwkPathDefaultValue;
+#endif
+
 QString kUserDefaultValue;
 
 Preferences::Preferences()
@@ -53,9 +59,14 @@ Preferences::~Preferences()
 
 void Preferences::initDefaults()
 {
-    Q_ASSERT(appSettings);
 
-    // Read username from the environment
+#if defined(Q_OS_WIN32)
+    kGzipPathDefaultValue = QApplication::applicationDirPath() + "/gzip.exe";
+    kDiffPathDefaultValue = QApplication::applicationDirPath() + "/diff.exe";
+    kAwkPathDefaultValue = QApplication::applicationDirPath() + "/gawk.exe";
+#endif
+
+    // Read default username from the environment
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN32
     kUserDefaultValue = QString(qgetenv("USERNAME").constData());
 #else