diff --git a/kmsender.cpp b/kmsender.cpp
index 481b60495..7db4d3199 100644
--- a/kmsender.cpp
+++ b/kmsender.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,14 @@ extern KMIdentity *identity;
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/wait.h>
 
+#ifdef HAVE_PATHS_H
+#include <paths.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifndef _PATH_SENDMAIL
+#define _PATH_SENDMAIL  "/usr/sbin/sendmail"
+#endif
+
 #define SENDER_GROUP "sending mail"
 
 /** uncomment the following line for SMTP debug output */
@@ -72,7 +80,7 @@ void KMSender::readConfig(void)
 
   mSendImmediate = (bool)config->readNumEntry("Immediate", TRUE);
   mSendQuotedPrintable = (bool)config->readNumEntry("Quoted-Printable", FALSE);
-  mMailer = config->readEntry("Mailer", "/usr/sbin/sendmail");
+  mMailer = config->readEntry("Mailer",  _PATH_SENDMAIL);
   mSmtpHost = config->readEntry("Smtp Host", "localhost");
   mSmtpPort = config->readNumEntry("Smtp Port", 25);
 
diff --git a/kmsettings.cpp b/kmsettings.cpp
index 36af17332..19b0f9b22 100644
--- a/kmsettings.cpp
+++ b/kmsettings.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@
 #include <qradiobt.h>
 #include <qchkbox.h>
 
+#ifdef HAVE_PATHS_H
+#include <paths.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifndef _PATH_SENDMAIL
+#define _PATH_SENDMAIL  "/usr/sbin/sendmail"
+#endif
+
 //------
 #include "kmsettings.moc"
 
@@ -742,7 +750,7 @@ void KMSettings::setDefaults()
 {
   sigEdit->setText(QString(QDir::home().path())+"/.signature");
   sendmailRadio->setChecked(TRUE);
-  sendmailLocationEdit->setText("/usr/sbin/sendmail");
+  sendmailLocationEdit->setText(_PATH_SENDMAIL);
   smtpRadio->setChecked(FALSE);
   smtpPortEdit->setText("25");
 }