diff --git a/extra/editors/wordpad/wordpad.factor b/extra/editors/wordpad/wordpad.factor
index e1646a0855..eb882a9e38 100644
--- a/extra/editors/wordpad/wordpad.factor
+++ b/extra/editors/wordpad/wordpad.factor
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ USING: editors hardware-info.windows io.launcher kernel
 math.parser namespaces sequences windows.shell32 ;
 IN: editors.wordpad
 
+: wordpad-path ( -- path )
+    \ wordpad-path get [
+        program-files "\\Windows NT\\Accessories\\wordpad.exe" append
+    ] unless* ;
+
 : wordpad ( file line -- )
     [
-        \ wordpad get-global % drop " " % "\"" % % "\"" %
+        wordpad-path % drop " " % "\"" % % "\"" %
     ] "" make run-detached ;
 
-program-files "\\Windows NT\\Accessories\\wordpad.exe" append
-\ wordpad set-global
-
 [ wordpad ] edit-hook set-global