diff --git a/liquidprompt b/liquidprompt
index 127cada..78e7c50 100755
--- a/liquidprompt
+++ b/liquidprompt
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ if test -n "$BASH_VERSION" -a -n "$PS1" -a -n "$TERM" ; then
     _LP_TIME_SYMBOL="\t"
     _LP_MARK_SYMBOL='\$'
     _LP_FIRST_INDEX=0
-    LP_PATH_DEFAULT="\\w"
+    _LP_PWD_SYMBOL="\\w"
 elif test -n "$ZSH_VERSION" ; then
     _LP_SHELL_bash=false
     _LP_SHELL_zsh=true
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ elif test -n "$ZSH_VERSION" ; then
     _LP_TIME_SYMBOL="%*"
     _LP_MARK_SYMBOL='%(!.#.%%)'
     _LP_FIRST_INDEX=1
-    LP_PATH_DEFAULT="%~"
+    _LP_PWD_SYMBOL="%~"
 else
     echo "liquidprompt: shell not supported" >&2
     return
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ _lp_source_config()
     LP_RUNTIME_THRESHOLD=${LP_RUNTIME_THRESHOLD:-2}
     LP_PATH_LENGTH=${LP_PATH_LENGTH:-35}
     LP_PATH_KEEP=${LP_PATH_KEEP:-2}
+    LP_PATH_DEFAULT="${LP_PATH_DEFAULT:-$_LP_PWD_SYMBOL}"
     LP_HOSTNAME_ALWAYS=${LP_HOSTNAME_ALWAYS:-0}
     LP_USER_ALWAYS=${LP_USER_ALWAYS:-1}
     LP_PERCENTS_ALWAYS=${LP_PERCENTS_ALWAYS:-1}
@@ -222,7 +223,6 @@ _lp_source_config()
     LP_TITLE_CLOSE=${LP_TITLE_CLOSE:-"\a"}
     LP_SCREEN_TITLE_OPEN=${LP_SCREEN_TITLE_OPEN:-"\033k"}
     LP_SCREEN_TITLE_CLOSE=${LP_SCREEN_TITLE_CLOSE:-"\033\134"}
-    LP_PATH_DEFAULT=${LP_PATH_DEFAULT:-$LP_PATH_DEFAULT}
 
     LP_ENABLE_PERM=${LP_ENABLE_PERM:-1}
     LP_ENABLE_SHORTEN_PATH=${LP_ENABLE_SHORTEN_PATH:-1}