diff --git a/src/cpp/main.cpp b/src/cpp/main.cpp
index e5011bb..71334ec 100644
--- a/src/cpp/main.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/main.cpp
@@ -146,8 +146,14 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 #endif
 
 #ifdef INI_ASDF
+  LQML::eval("(x:ensure-compiler)");
   ecl_init_module(NULL, init_lib_ASDF);
-  LQML::eval("(push *default-pathname-defaults* asdf:*central-registry*)");
+  // needed for desktop/SFOS apps that depend on ASDF and need additional files
+  // at runtime; in this case, the absolute app path must be passed when
+  // launching the app, like 'qt-runner /usr/bin/my-app/my-app' (SFOS)
+  LQML::eval("(let ((path (ext:argv 0)))"
+             "  (x:when-it (position #\\/ path :from-end t)"
+             "    (push (subseq path 0 (1+ x:it)) asdf:*central-registry*)))");
 #endif
 
   // load .eclrc
diff --git a/src/lisp/x.lisp b/src/lisp/x.lisp
index d3bcc0b..28db882 100644
--- a/src/lisp/x.lisp
+++ b/src/lisp/x.lisp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
    #:d
    #:do-string
    #:empty-string
+   #:ensure-compiler
    #:ensure-list
    #:ends-with
    #:it
@@ -137,3 +138,8 @@
               (package-name (symbol-package callback))
               (symbol-name callback))))
 
+(defun ensure-compiler ()
+  (ignore-errors (ext:install-c-compiler))
+  (unless (find-symbol "*CC*" :c)
+    (ext:install-bytecodes-compiler)))
+