diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e6be5b4e8..4879b4347 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -608,11 +608,12 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses-input
 
 ############################################################################
 # nctetris
-file(GLOB TETRISSRC CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/tetris/*.cpp)
+file(GLOB TETRISSRC CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/tetris/*.cpp src/compat/*.c)
 add_executable(nctetris ${TETRISSRC})
 target_include_directories(nctetris
   BEFORE
   PRIVATE
+    src
     include
     "${CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES}"
     "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
diff --git a/src/compat/compat.h b/src/compat/compat.h
index bdda8788f..56aeac8fa 100644
--- a/src/compat/compat.h
+++ b/src/compat/compat.h
@@ -116,6 +116,26 @@ int clock_nanosleep(clockid_t clockid, int flags,
                     const struct timespec *request,
                     struct timespec *remain);
 
+static inline char*
+notcurses_data_path(const char* f){
+  char* datadir = notcurses_data_dir();
+  if(datadir == NULL){
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  const size_t dlen = strlen(datadir);
+  // cast is for benefit of c++ callers, sigh
+  char* path = (char*)malloc(dlen + 1 + strlen(f) + 1);
+  if(path == NULL){
+    free(datadir);
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  strcpy(path, datadir);
+  free(datadir);
+  path[dlen] = path_separator();
+  strcpy(path + dlen + 1, f);
+  return path;
+}
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #else
diff --git a/src/demo/demo.c b/src/demo/demo.c
index f8b0dadd2..99784d376 100644
--- a/src/demo/demo.c
+++ b/src/demo/demo.c
@@ -44,12 +44,7 @@ const demoresult* demoresult_lookup(int idx){
 }
 
 char* find_data(const char* datum){
-  const size_t dlen = strlen(datadir);
-  char* path = malloc(dlen + 1 + strlen(datum) + 1);
-  strcpy(path, datadir);
-  path[dlen] = path_separator();
-  strcpy(path + dlen + 1, datum);
-  return path;
+  return notcurses_data_path(datum);
 }
 
 float delaymultiplier = 1;
diff --git a/src/lib/in.c b/src/lib/in.c
index f54baf2f4..f35edca2e 100644
--- a/src/lib/in.c
+++ b/src/lib/in.c
@@ -2275,8 +2275,8 @@ internal_get(inputctx* ictx, const struct timespec* ts, ncinput* ni){
     sendsignal = true;
   }else{
     logtrace("draining event readiness pipe %d\n", ictx->ivalid);
-    char c;
 #ifndef __MINGW64__
+    char c;
     while(read(ictx->readypipes[0], &c, sizeof(c)) == 1){
       // FIXME accelerate?
     }
diff --git a/src/tetris/main.cpp b/src/tetris/main.cpp
index 231717393..4f486cf45 100644
--- a/src/tetris/main.cpp
+++ b/src/tetris/main.cpp
@@ -11,19 +11,14 @@
 #include <cinttypes>
 #include <ncpp/NotCurses.hh>
 #include <ncpp/Visual.hh>
+#include "compat/compat.h"
 #include "builddef.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
 std::mutex ncmtx;
 
-#ifdef __MINGW64__
-#define PATHSEP "\\"
-#else
-#define PATHSEP "/"
-#endif
-const std::string BackgroundFile = NOTCURSES_SHARE PATHSEP "tetris-background.jpg";
-const std::string LogoFile = NOTCURSES_SHARE PATHSEP "notcurses.png";
-#undef PATHSEP
+const std::string BackgroundFile = notcurses_data_path("tetris-background.jpg");
+const std::string LogoFile = notcurses_data_path("notcurses.png");
 
 using namespace std::chrono_literals;