diff --git a/sys/apps/compat.lua b/sys/apps/compat.lua
index 812410d..c7cfc46 100644
--- a/sys/apps/compat.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/compat.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ local Util = require('opus.util')
 -- some programs expect to be run in the global scope
 -- ie. busted, moonscript
 
--- create a new sandbox mimicing pure lua
+-- create a new environment mimicing pure lua
 
 local fs    = _G.fs
 local shell = _ENV.shell
diff --git a/sys/apps/shell.lua b/sys/apps/shell.lua
index a3f7812..2172b74 100644
--- a/sys/apps/shell.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/shell.lua
@@ -36,24 +36,26 @@ local function tokenise( ... )
 end
 
 local defaultHandlers = {
-	urlHandler = function(args, env)
+	function(args, env)
 		return args[1]:match("^(https?:)") and {
 			title = fs.getName(args[1]),
 			path  = table.remove(args, 1),
 			args  = args,
 			load  = Util.loadUrl,
-			env   = env,
+			env   = shell.makeEnv(env),
 		}
 	end,
 
-	pathHandler = function(args, env)
-		local command = table.remove(args, 1)
+	function(args, env)
+		local command = shell.resolveProgram(table.remove(args, 1))
+			or error('No such program')
+
 		return {
 			title = fs.getName(command):match('([^%.]+)'),
-			path  = shell.resolveProgram(command) or error('No such program'),
+			path  = command,
 			args  = args,
 			load  = loadfile,
-			env   = env,
+			env   = shell.makeEnv(env, fs.getDir(command)),
 		}
 	end,
 }
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ local function run(...)
 		error('No such program')
 	end
 
-	local pi = handleCommand(args, shell.makeEnv(_ENV))
+	local pi = handleCommand(args, _ENV)
 
 	local O_v_O, err = pi.load(pi.path, pi.env)
 	if not O_v_O then
@@ -310,9 +312,9 @@ function shell.getRunningInfo()
 end
 
 -- convenience function for making a runnable env
-function shell.makeEnv(env)
+function shell.makeEnv(env, dir)
 	env = setmetatable(Util.shallowCopy(env), { __index = _G })
-	_G.requireInjector(env)
+	_G.requireInjector(env, dir)
 	return env
 end
 
diff --git a/sys/kernel.lua b/sys/kernel.lua
index 833631d..a4ee040 100644
--- a/sys/kernel.lua
+++ b/sys/kernel.lua
@@ -165,9 +165,9 @@ function kernel.getShell()
 end
 
 -- each routine inherits the parent's env
-function kernel.makeEnv(env)
+function kernel.makeEnv(env, dir)
 	env = setmetatable(Util.shallowCopy(env or _ENV), { __index = _G })
-	_G.requireInjector(env)
+	_G.requireInjector(env, dir)
 	return env
 end
 
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ function kernel.newRoutine(env, args)
 	}, { __index = Routine })
 
 	Util.merge(routine, args)
-	routine.env = args.env or kernel.makeEnv(env)
+	routine.env = args.env or kernel.makeEnv(env, routine.path and fs.getDir(routine.path))
 	routine.terminal = routine.terminal or routine.window
 
 	return routine
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/injector.lua b/sys/modules/opus/injector.lua
index 8f66685..f9c0ee4 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/injector.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/injector.lua
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ do
 	end
 end
 
-local DEFAULT_PATH   = table.concat(defaultPath, ';')
+local DEFAULT_PATH = table.concat(defaultPath, ';')
 
 local fs     = _G.fs
 local os     = _G.os
@@ -59,15 +59,9 @@ return function(env, programDir)
 
 		for pattern in string.gmatch(env.package.path, "[^;]+") do
 			local sPath = string.gsub(pattern, "%?", fname)
-			-- TODO: if there's no shell, we should not be checking relative paths below
-			-- as they will resolve to root directory
+
 			if programDir and sPath:sub(1, 1) ~= "/" then
 				sPath = fs.combine(programDir, sPath)
-			elseif env.shell
-				and type(env.shell.getRunningProgram) == 'function'
-				and sPath:sub(1, 1) ~= "/" then
-
-				sPath = fs.combine(fs.getDir(env.shell.getRunningProgram() or ''), sPath)
 			end
 			if fs.exists(sPath) and not fs.isDir(sPath) then
 				return loadfile(fs.combine(sPath, ''), env)
@@ -131,6 +125,4 @@ return function(env, programDir)
 		end
 		error('Unable to find module ' .. modname, 2)
 	end
-
-	return env.require -- backwards compatible
 end