diff --git a/src/filters/rclexecm.py b/src/filters/rclexecm.py
index 27e68048..15591155 100644
--- a/src/filters/rclexecm.py
+++ b/src/filters/rclexecm.py
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ import os
 import tempfile
 import shutil
 import getopt
+import rclconfig
+
+my_config = rclconfig.RclConfig()
 
 ############################################
 # RclExecM implements the
@@ -207,6 +210,10 @@ def which(program):
 
     def path_candidates():
         yield os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])
+        rclpath = my_config.getConfParam("recollhelperpath")
+        if rclpath:
+            for path in rclpath.split(os.pathsep):
+                yield path
         for path in os.environ["PATH"].split(os.pathsep):
             yield path
             
diff --git a/src/python/recoll/recoll/rclconfig.py b/src/python/recoll/recoll/rclconfig.py
index 12485fa9..28cb4e5a 100755
--- a/src/python/recoll/recoll/rclconfig.py
+++ b/src/python/recoll/recoll/rclconfig.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
+from __future__ import print_function
 
 import locale
 import re
 import os
 import sys
 import base64
+import platform
 
 class ConfSimple:
     """A ConfSimple class reads a recoll configuration file, which is a typical
@@ -143,14 +145,23 @@ class RclDynConf:
     
 class RclConfig:
     def __init__(self, argcnf = None):
+        platsys = platform.system()
         # Find configuration directory
         if argcnf is not None:
             self.confdir = os.path.abspath(argcnf)
         elif "RECOLL_CONFDIR" in os.environ:
             self.confdir = os.environ["RECOLL_CONFDIR"]
         else:
-            self.confdir = os.path.expanduser("~/.recoll")
-        #print("Confdir: [%s]" % self.confdir)
+            if platsys == "Windows":
+                if "LOCALAPPDATA" in os.environ:
+                    dir = os.environ["LOCALAPPDATA"]
+                else:
+                    dir = os.path.expanduser("~")
+                self.confdir = os.path.join(dir, "Recoll")
+            else:
+                self.confdir = os.path.expanduser("~/.recoll")
+        #print("Confdir: [%s]" % self.confdir, file=sys.stderr)
+        
         # Also find datadir. This is trickier because this is set by
         # "configure" in the C code. We can only do our best. Have to
         # choose a preference order. Use RECOLL_DATADIR if the order is wrong
@@ -158,14 +169,17 @@ class RclConfig:
         if "RECOLL_DATADIR" in os.environ:
             self.datadir = os.environ["RECOLL_DATADIR"]
         else:
-            dirs = ("/opt/local", "/usr", "/usr/local")
-            for dir in dirs:
-                dd = os.path.join(dir, "share/recoll")
-                if os.path.exists(dd):
-                    self.datadir = dd
+            if platsys == "Windows":
+                self.datadir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]), "..")
+            else:
+                dirs = ("/opt/local", "/usr", "/usr/local")
+                for dir in dirs:
+                    dd = os.path.join(dir, "share/recoll")
+                    if os.path.exists(dd):
+                        self.datadir = dd
         if self.datadir is None:
             self.datadir = "/usr/share/recoll"
-        #print("Datadir: [%s]" % self.datadir)
+        #print("Datadir: [%s]" % self.datadir, file=sys.stderr)
         self.cdirs = []
         
         # Additional config directory, values override user ones
@@ -176,7 +190,7 @@ class RclConfig:
         if "RECOLL_CONFMID" in os.environ:
             self.cdirs.append(os.environ["RECOLL_CONFMID"])
         self.cdirs.append(os.path.join(self.datadir, "examples"))
-
+        #print("Config dirs: %s" % self.cdirs, file=sys.stderr)
         self.config = ConfStack("recoll.conf", self.cdirs, "tree")
         self.keydir = ''
 
diff --git a/src/sampleconf/recoll.conf b/src/sampleconf/recoll.conf
index 7087e1db..23c40cbd 100644
--- a/src/sampleconf/recoll.conf
+++ b/src/sampleconf/recoll.conf
@@ -202,6 +202,10 @@ idxflushmb = 10
 # the environment, we use it instead. Defaults to $prefix/share/recoll/filters
 # filtersdir = /path/to/my/filters
 
+# Additional places to search for helper executables. This is only used on
+# Windows for now
+# recollhelperpath = c:/someprog/bin;c:/someotherprog/bin
+
 # Place to search for icons. The only reason to change this would be if you
 # want to change the icons displayed in the result list.
 # Defaults to $prefix/share/recoll/images
diff --git a/src/windows/mkinstdir.sh b/src/windows/mkinstdir.sh
index 34d41607..45abaf0c 100644
--- a/src/windows/mkinstdir.sh
+++ b/src/windows/mkinstdir.sh
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ copyrecoll()
     cc $RECOLL/sampleconf/recoll.qss    $DESTDIR/Share/examples
 
     cp $RECOLL/filters/*                $FILTERS || exit 1
+    cp $RECOLL/python/recoll/recoll/rclconfig.py $FILTERS || exit 1
 }
 
 copyantiword()