diff --git a/init/multi-emacs-config.el b/init/multi-emacs-config.el
index 5493a48..41dd93b 100644
--- a/init/multi-emacs-config.el
+++ b/init/multi-emacs-config.el
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@
   (cdr (cdr (assoc name startkit-info))))
 
 (defun load-emacs ()
+  ;; use emacs config directory as user-emacs-directory
+  (setq user-emacs-directory emacs-config-directory)
   (funcall (get-startkit-loader (intern startkit-name)
 				startkit-info)
            emacs-base-directory