diff --git a/cmd/cli/cli.go b/cmd/cli/cli.go
index 3ae97f2..99054da 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/cli.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/cli.go
@@ -850,7 +850,14 @@ NOTE: Uninstalling will set DNS to values provided by DHCP.`,
 			checkHasElevatedPrivilege()
 		},
 		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-			s, err := newService(&prog{}, svcConfig)
+			bin, err := os.Executable()
+			if err != nil {
+				mainLog.Load().Fatal().Err(err).Msg("failed to get current ctrld binary path")
+			}
+			sc := &service.Config{}
+			*sc = *svcConfig
+			sc.Executable = bin
+			s, err := newService(&prog{}, sc)
 			if err != nil {
 				mainLog.Load().Error().Msg(err.Error())
 				return
@@ -859,10 +866,6 @@ NOTE: Uninstalling will set DNS to values provided by DHCP.`,
 			if _, err := s.Status(); errors.Is(err, service.ErrNotInstalled) {
 				svcInstalled = false
 			}
-			bin, err := os.Executable()
-			if err != nil {
-				mainLog.Load().Fatal().Err(err).Msg("failed to get current ctrld binary path")
-			}
 			oldBin := bin + "_previous"
 			baseUrl := upgradeChannel[upgradeChannelDefault]
 			if len(args) > 0 {
diff --git a/cmd/cli/service.go b/cmd/cli/service.go
index ef37796..1de206f 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/service.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/service.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func newService(i service.Interface, c *service.Config) (service.Service, error)
 	}
 	switch {
 	case router.IsOldOpenwrt(), router.IsNetGearOrbi():
-		return &procd{&sysV{s}}, nil
+		return &procd{sysV: &sysV{s}, svcConfig: c}, nil
 	case router.IsGLiNet():
 		return &sysV{s}, nil
 	case s.Platform() == "unix-systemv":
@@ -89,18 +89,24 @@ func (s *sysV) Status() (service.Status, error) {
 // like old GL.iNET Opal router.
 type procd struct {
 	*sysV
+	svcConfig *service.Config
 }
 
 func (s *procd) Status() (service.Status, error) {
 	if !s.installed() {
 		return service.StatusUnknown, service.ErrNotInstalled
 	}
-	exe, err := os.Executable()
-	if err != nil {
-		return service.StatusUnknown, nil
+	bin := s.svcConfig.Executable
+	if bin == "" {
+		exe, err := os.Executable()
+		if err != nil {
+			return service.StatusUnknown, nil
+		}
+		bin = exe
 	}
+
 	// Looking for something like "/sbin/ctrld run ".
-	shellCmd := fmt.Sprintf("ps | grep -q %q", exe+" [r]un ")
+	shellCmd := fmt.Sprintf("ps | grep -q %q", bin+" [r]un ")
 	if err := exec.Command("sh", "-c", shellCmd).Run(); err != nil {
 		return service.StatusStopped, nil
 	}
diff --git a/internal/router/service_merlin.go b/internal/router/service_merlin.go
index 76ea938..8ab6d6a 100644
--- a/internal/router/service_merlin.go
+++ b/internal/router/service_merlin.go
@@ -49,11 +49,15 @@ func (s *merlinSvc) Platform() string {
 }
 
 func (s *merlinSvc) configPath() string {
-	path, err := os.Executable()
-	if err != nil {
-		return ""
+	bin := s.Config.Executable
+	if bin == "" {
+		path, err := os.Executable()
+		if err != nil {
+			return ""
+		}
+		bin = path
 	}
-	return path + ".startup"
+	return bin + ".startup"
 }
 
 func (s *merlinSvc) template() *template.Template {