diff --git a/.changes/wix-working-directory.md b/.changes/wix-working-directory.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..982cb1fab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/wix-working-directory.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"tauri-bundler": patch
+---
+
+Set the Windows installer (WiX) `WorkingDirectory` field to `INSTALLDIR` so the app can read paths relatively (previously resolving to `C:\Windows\System32`).
diff --git a/cli/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/templates/main.wxs b/cli/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/templates/main.wxs
index 650a47d28..c8537ee03 100644
--- a/cli/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/templates/main.wxs
+++ b/cli/tauri-bundler/src/bundle/templates/main.wxs
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@
                     Name="{{{product_name}}}"
                     Description="Runs {{{product_name}}}"
                     Target="[!Path]"
-                    Icon="ProductIcon">
+                    Icon="ProductIcon"
+                    WorkingDirectory="INSTALLDIR">
                     <ShortcutProperty Key="System.AppUserModel.ID" Value="{{{manufacturer}}}"/>
                 </Shortcut>
                 <RemoveFolder Id="ApplicationProgramsFolder" On="uninstall"/>