diff --git a/setup/scripts/change-settings b/setup/scripts/change-settings
index 056aa13..3cda425 100755
--- a/setup/scripts/change-settings
+++ b/setup/scripts/change-settings
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ log() { echo -e "\033[1;34m[INFO]\033[0m $*"; }
 exists() { command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1; }
 
 # --- Defined Paths ---
-PANAMA_PATH="$HOME/.local/share/Panama"
+# The default, not an assignment: an exported PANAMA_PATH from a clone at
+# another location must win, or the copy over / below reads the wrong tree.
+PANAMA_PATH="${PANAMA_PATH:-$HOME/.local/share/Panama}"
 
 echo -e "\n--- Copying System & User files ---"
 log "Changing DNF Settings"
diff --git a/setup/scripts/install-packages b/setup/scripts/install-packages
index 395d92f..a3410c5 100755
--- a/setup/scripts/install-packages
+++ b/setup/scripts/install-packages
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ packages_in() {
 }
 
 # --- Defined Paths ---
-PANAMA_PATH="$HOME/.local/share/Panama"
+# The default, not an assignment: ./install and link-dotfiles honor an exported
+# PANAMA_PATH, and clobbering it here made a clone anywhere else source the
+# extras catalog from a path that does not exist.
+PANAMA_PATH="${PANAMA_PATH:-$HOME/.local/share/Panama}"
 
 # Reading the extras catalog, shared with `panama apps` so the two front doors
 # cannot disagree about what a category contains.