diff --git a/back.c b/back.c
index f364e31..c1810dc 100644
--- a/back.c
+++ b/back.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "cmd.h"
 
 #define CFGFILE		"/etc/spnavrc"
-#define PIDFILE		"/var/run/spnavd.pid"
 
 int get_daemon_pid(void);
 static int update_cfg(void);
@@ -97,11 +96,26 @@ int get_daemon_pid(void)
 {
 	FILE *fp;
 	char buf[64];
+	char* xdg_runtime_dir;
+	char* pidfile;
 
-	if(!(fp = fopen(PIDFILE, "r"))) {
+	if(!(xdg_runtime_dir = getenv("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR"))){
+		fprintf(stderr, "XDG_RUNTIME_DIR not set, can't find spacenav pid file\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+	pidfile = malloc(strlen(xdg_runtime_dir) + strlen("/spnavd.pid") + 1);
+	if (pidfile == NULL) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "failed to allocate memory\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+	sprintf(pidfile, "%s/spnavd.pid", xdg_runtime_dir);
+
+	if(!(fp = fopen(pidfile, "r"))) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "no spacenav pid file, can't find daemon\n");
+		free(pidfile);
 		return -1;
 	}
+	free(pidfile);
 	if(!fgets(buf, sizeof buf, fp) || !isdigit(buf[0])) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "corrupted pidfile, can't find the daemon\n");
 		fclose(fp);