diff --git a/src/env/config_paths.rs b/src/env/config_paths.rs
index e84c430dc..d39d82bbe 100644
--- a/src/env/config_paths.rs
+++ b/src/env/config_paths.rs
@@ -59,6 +59,19 @@ pub struct ConfigPaths {
 const DOC_DIR: &str = env!("DOCDIR");
 
 impl ConfigPaths {
+    #[cfg(not(feature = "embed-data"))]
+    fn static_paths() -> Self {
+        // Fall back to what got compiled in.
+        FLOG!(config, "Using compiled in paths:");
+        Self {
+            data: Some(PathBuf::from(env!("DATADIR")).join("fish")),
+            sysconf: PathBuf::from(SYSCONF_DIR).join("fish"),
+            doc: DOC_DIR.into(),
+            bin: Some(PathBuf::from(env!("BINDIR"))),
+            locale: Some(PathBuf::from(env!("LOCALEDIR"))),
+        }
+    }
+
     #[cfg(feature = "embed-data")]
     fn new(_argv0: &Path, exec_path: PathBuf) -> Self {
         FLOG!(config, "embed-data feature is active, ignoring data paths");
@@ -73,60 +86,53 @@ fn new(_argv0: &Path, exec_path: PathBuf) -> Self {
 
     #[cfg(not(feature = "embed-data"))]
     fn new(argv0: &Path, exec_path: PathBuf) -> Self {
-        if let Ok(exec_path) = exec_path.canonicalize() {
+        let Ok(exec_path) = exec_path.canonicalize() else {
+            return Self::static_paths();
+        };
+        FLOG!(
+            config,
+            format!("exec_path: {:?}, argv[0]: {:?}", exec_path, &argv0)
+        );
+        // TODO: we should determine program_name from argv0 somewhere in this file
+
+        // If we're in Cargo's target directory or CMake's build directory, use the source files.
+        if exec_path.starts_with(env!("FISH_BUILD_DIR")) {
+            let workspace_root = fish_build_helper::workspace_root();
             FLOG!(
                 config,
-                format!("exec_path: {:?}, argv[0]: {:?}", exec_path, &argv0)
+                "Running out of target directory, using paths relative to workspace root:\n",
+                workspace_root.display()
             );
-            // TODO: we should determine program_name from argv0 somewhere in this file
+            return ConfigPaths {
+                data: Some(workspace_root.join("share")),
+                sysconf: workspace_root.join("etc"),
+                doc: workspace_root.join("user_doc/html"),
+                bin: Some(exec_path.parent().unwrap().to_owned()),
+                locale: Some(workspace_root.join("share/locale")),
+            };
+        }
 
-            // If we're in Cargo's target directory or CMake's build directory, use the source files.
-            if exec_path.starts_with(env!("FISH_BUILD_DIR")) {
-                let workspace_root = fish_build_helper::workspace_root();
-                FLOG!(
-                    config,
-                    "Running out of target directory, using paths relative to workspace root:\n",
-                    workspace_root.display()
-                );
-                return ConfigPaths {
-                    data: Some(workspace_root.join("share")),
-                    sysconf: workspace_root.join("etc"),
-                    doc: workspace_root.join("user_doc/html"),
-                    bin: Some(exec_path.parent().unwrap().to_owned()),
-                    locale: Some(workspace_root.join("share/locale")),
-                };
-            }
-
-            let mut paths = ConfigPaths::default();
-            // The next check is that we are in a relocatable directory tree
-            if exec_path.ends_with("bin/fish") {
-                let base_path = exec_path.parent().unwrap().parent().unwrap();
-                paths = ConfigPaths {
-                    data: Some(base_path.join("share/fish")),
-                    sysconf: base_path.join("etc/fish"),
-                    doc: base_path.join("share/doc/fish"),
-                    bin: Some(base_path.join("bin")),
-                    locale: Some(base_path.join("share/locale")),
-                }
-            }
-
-            if paths.data.clone().is_some_and(|x| x.exists()) && paths.sysconf.exists() {
-                // The docs dir may not exist; in that case fall back to the compiled in path.
-                if !paths.doc.exists() {
-                    paths.doc = PathBuf::from(DOC_DIR);
-                }
-                return paths;
+        let mut paths = ConfigPaths::default();
+        // The next check is that we are in a relocatable directory tree
+        if exec_path.ends_with("bin/fish") {
+            let base_path = exec_path.parent().unwrap().parent().unwrap();
+            paths = ConfigPaths {
+                data: Some(base_path.join("share/fish")),
+                sysconf: base_path.join("etc/fish"),
+                doc: base_path.join("share/doc/fish"),
+                bin: Some(base_path.join("bin")),
+                locale: Some(base_path.join("share/locale")),
             }
         }
 
-        // Fall back to what got compiled in.
-        FLOG!(config, "Using compiled in paths:");
-        ConfigPaths {
-            data: Some(PathBuf::from(env!("DATADIR")).join("fish")),
-            sysconf: PathBuf::from(SYSCONF_DIR).join("fish"),
-            doc: DOC_DIR.into(),
-            bin: Some(PathBuf::from(env!("BINDIR"))),
-            locale: Some(PathBuf::from(env!("LOCALEDIR"))),
+        if paths.data.clone().is_some_and(|x| x.exists()) && paths.sysconf.exists() {
+            // The docs dir may not exist; in that case fall back to the compiled in path.
+            if !paths.doc.exists() {
+                paths.doc = PathBuf::from(DOC_DIR);
+            }
+            return paths;
         }
+
+        Self::static_paths()
     }
 }