diff --git a/include/decl.h b/include/decl.h
index 415d710b1..9859c3e24 100644
--- a/include/decl.h
+++ b/include/decl.h
@@ -340,6 +340,10 @@ struct instance_globals_d {
     boolean decor_fumble_override;
     boolean decor_levitate_override;
 
+    /* new */
+    boolean deferred_showpaths;
+    const char *deferred_showpaths_dir;
+
     boolean havestate;
     unsigned long magic; /* validate that structure layout is preserved */
 };
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 35bb33138..760ad30e2 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -1072,11 +1072,12 @@ extern int nhclose(int);
 #ifdef DEBUG
 extern boolean debugcore(const char *, boolean);
 #endif
-extern void reveal_paths(void);
+extern void reveal_paths(int);
 extern boolean read_tribute(const char *, const char *, int, char *, int,
                             unsigned);
 extern boolean Death_quote(char *, int) NONNULLARG1;
 extern void livelog_add(long ll_type, const char *) NONNULLARG2;
+ATTRNORETURN extern void do_deferred_showpaths(int) NORETURN;
 
 /* ### fountain.c ### */
 
@@ -3379,6 +3380,7 @@ extern void append_slash(char *) NONNULLARG1;
 extern boolean check_user_string(const char *) NONNULLARG1;
 extern char *get_login_name(void);
 extern unsigned long sys_random_seed(void);
+ATTRNORETURN extern void after_opt_showpaths(const char *) NORETURN;
 #endif /* UNIX */
 
 /* ### unixtty.c ### */
diff --git a/src/decl.c b/src/decl.c
index 08b54e4f7..e21cfc8db 100644
--- a/src/decl.c
+++ b/src/decl.c
@@ -339,6 +339,8 @@ static const struct instance_globals_d g_init_d = {
     /* pickup.c */
     FALSE, /* decor_fumble_override */
     FALSE, /* decor_levitate_override */
+    FALSE, /* deferred_showpaths */
+    NULL,  /* deferred_showpaths_dir  */
     TRUE, /* havestate*/
     IVMAGIC  /* d_magic to validate that structure layout has been preserved */
 };
diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index d7ce06f60..8a23a0175 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -4467,6 +4467,8 @@ assure_syscf_file(void)
         close(fd);
         return;
     }
+    if (gd.deferred_showpaths)
+        do_deferred_showpaths(1);  /* does not return */
     raw_printf("Unable to open SYSCF_FILE.\n");
     exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
@@ -4474,6 +4476,26 @@ assure_syscf_file(void)
 #endif /* SYSCF_FILE */
 #endif /* SYSCF */
 
+ATTRNORETURN void
+do_deferred_showpaths(int code)
+{
+    gd.deferred_showpaths = FALSE;
+    reveal_paths(code);
+
+#ifdef UNIX
+    after_opt_showpaths(gd.deferred_showpaths_dir);
+#else
+#ifdef CHDIR
+    chdirx(gd.deferred_showpaths_dir, 0);
+#endif
+#if defined(WIN32) || defined(MICRO) || defined(OS2)
+    nethack_exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+#else
+    exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+#endif
+#endif
+}
+
 #ifdef DEBUG
 /* used by debugpline() to decide whether to issue a message
  * from a particular source file; caller passes __FILE__ and we check
@@ -4534,9 +4556,11 @@ debugcore(const char *filename, boolean wildcards)
 #endif
 
 void
-reveal_paths(void)
+reveal_paths(int code)
 {
-    const char *fqn, *nodumpreason;
+    const char *fqn, *nodumpreason,
+	  *sysconffile = "system configuration file";
+
     char buf[BUFSZ];
 #if defined(SYSCF) || !defined(UNIX) || defined(DLB)
     const char *filep;
@@ -4570,7 +4594,8 @@ reveal_paths(void)
 #else
     buf[0] = '\0';
 #endif
-    raw_printf("%s system configuration file%s:", s_suffix(gamename), buf);
+    raw_printf("%s %s%s:",
+               s_suffix(gamename), sysconffile, buf);
 #ifdef SYSCF_FILE
     filep = SYSCF_FILE;
 #else
@@ -4582,6 +4607,10 @@ reveal_paths(void)
         filep = configfile;
     }
     raw_printf("    \"%s\"", filep);
+    if (code == 1) {
+        raw_printf("NOTE: The %s above is missing or inaccessible!",
+                   sysconffile);
+    }
 #else /* !SYSCF */
     raw_printf("No system configuration file.");
 #endif /* ?SYSCF */
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index 0a9a7dc85..30d7709f4 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -6942,6 +6942,11 @@ initoptions(void)
      */
 #endif
 #endif /* SYSCF */
+
+    /* Carry out options that got deferred from early_options */
+    if (gd.deferred_showpaths)
+        do_deferred_showpaths(0);  /* does not return */
+
     initoptions_finish();
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/libnh/libnhmain.c b/sys/libnh/libnhmain.c
index 20835dda6..289ee2c5f 100644
--- a/sys/libnh/libnhmain.c
+++ b/sys/libnh/libnhmain.c
@@ -108,14 +108,8 @@ nhmain(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif
 
         if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_SHOWPATHS) == 2) {
-#ifdef CHDIR
-            chdirx((char *) 0, 0);
-#endif
-            iflags.initoptions_noterminate = TRUE;
-            initoptions();
-            iflags.initoptions_noterminate = FALSE;
-            reveal_paths();
-            exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+            gd.deferred_showpaths = TRUE;
+            return;
         }
         if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_DEBUG) == 1) {
             argc--;
diff --git a/sys/unix/unixmain.c b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
index e6b09492c..617a1ef06 100644
--- a/sys/unix/unixmain.c
+++ b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ static void consume_two_args(int, int *, char ***);
 static void early_options(int *, char ***, char **);
 ATTRNORETURN static void opt_terminate(void) NORETURN;
 ATTRNORETURN static void opt_usage(const char *) NORETURN;
-static void opt_showpaths(const char *);
 ATTRNORETURN static void scores_only(int, char **, const char *) NORETURN;
 #ifdef SND_LIB_INTEGRATED
 uint32_t soundlibchoice = soundlib_nosound;
@@ -702,9 +701,10 @@ early_options(int *argc_p, char ***argv_p, char **hackdir_p)
             break;
         case 's':
             if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_SHOWPATHS) == 2) {
-                opt_showpaths(*hackdir_p);
-                opt_terminate();
-                /*NOTREACHED*/
+		gd.deferred_showpaths = TRUE;
+		gd.deferred_showpaths_dir = *hackdir_p;
+                config_error_done();
+		return;
             }
             /* check for "-s" request to show scores */
             if (lopt(arg, ((ArgValDisallowed | ArgErrComplain)
@@ -785,18 +785,16 @@ opt_usage(const char *hackdir)
 
 /* show the sysconf file name, playground directory, run-time configuration
    file name, dumplog file name if applicable, and some other things */
-static void
-opt_showpaths(const char *dir)
+ATTRNORETURN void
+after_opt_showpaths(const char *dir)
 {
 #ifdef CHDIR
     chdirx(dir, FALSE);
 #else
     nhUse(dir);
 #endif
-    iflags.initoptions_noterminate = TRUE;
-    initoptions();
-    iflags.initoptions_noterminate = FALSE;
-    reveal_paths();
+    opt_terminate();
+    /*NOTREACHED*/
 }
 
 /* handle "-s <score options> [character-names]" to show all the entries
diff --git a/sys/vms/vmsmain.c b/sys/vms/vmsmain.c
index dcb681caa..25c40b842 100644
--- a/sys/vms/vmsmain.c
+++ b/sys/vms/vmsmain.c
@@ -80,15 +80,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
             exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
         if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_SHOWPATHS) == 2) {
-#ifdef CHDIR
-            chdirx((char *) 0, 0);
-#endif
-            iflags.initoptions_noterminate = TRUE;
-            initoptions();
-            iflags.initoptions_noterminate = FALSE;
-            reveal_paths();
-            exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
-        }
+            gd.deferred_showpaths = TRUE;
+            return;
+	}
         if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_DEBUG) == 1) {
             argc--;
             argv++;
diff --git a/sys/windows/windmain.c b/sys/windows/windmain.c
index df7144a20..15cb8442f 100644
--- a/sys/windows/windmain.c
+++ b/sys/windows/windmain.c
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 #error You must #define SAFEPROCS to build windmain.c
 #endif
 
-static void process_options(int argc, char **argv);
 static void nhusage(void);
 static char *get_executable_path(void);
+static void early_options(int argc, char **argv);
 char *translate_path_variables(const char *, char *);
 char *exename(void);
 boolean fakeconsole(void);
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ _CrtSetReportFile(_CRT_ASSERT, _CRTDBG_FILE_STDERR);*/
     iflags.windowtype_deferred = TRUE;
     copy_sysconf_content();
     copy_symbols_content();
+    early_options(argc, argv);
     initoptions();
 
     /* Now that sysconf has had a chance to set the TROUBLEPREFIX, don't
@@ -249,7 +250,6 @@ _CrtSetReportFile(_CRT_ASSERT, _CRTDBG_FILE_STDERR);*/
     fqn_prefix_locked[TROUBLEPREFIX] = TRUE;
 
     copy_config_content();
-    process_options(argc, argv);
 
     /* did something earlier flag a need to exit without starting a game? */
     if (windows_startup_state > 0) {
@@ -462,23 +462,18 @@ attempt_restore:
 RESTORE_WARNING_UNREACHABLE_CODE
 
 static void
-process_options(int argc, char * argv[])
+early_options(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     int i;
 
-    /*
-     * Process options.
-     */
     if (argc > 1) {
         if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_VERSION) == 2)
             nethack_exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
         if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_SHOWPATHS) == 2) {
-            iflags.initoptions_noterminate = TRUE;
-            initoptions();
-            iflags.initoptions_noterminate = FALSE;
-            reveal_paths();
-            nethack_exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+            gd.deferred_showpaths = TRUE;
+            /* gd.deferred_showpaths is not used by windows */
+            return;
         }
 #ifndef NODUMPENUMS
         if (argcheck(argc, argv, ARG_DUMPENUMS) == 2) {
@@ -509,7 +504,7 @@ process_options(int argc, char * argv[])
              */
             argc--;
             argv++;
-            const char * dir = argv[0] + 2;
+            const char *dir = argv[0] + 2;
             if (*dir == '=' || *dir == ':')
                 dir++;
             if (!*dir && argc > 1) {
@@ -578,7 +573,8 @@ process_options(int argc, char * argv[])
 #endif
         case 'u':
             if (argv[0][2])
-                (void) strncpy(svp.plname, argv[0] + 2, sizeof(svp.plname) - 1);
+                (void) strncpy(svp.plname, argv[0] + 2,
+                               sizeof(svp.plname) - 1);
             else if (argc > 1) {
                 argc--;
                 argv++;
@@ -634,8 +630,8 @@ process_options(int argc, char * argv[])
                 break;
             } else
                 raw_printf("\nUnknown switch: %s", argv[0]);
-        FALLTHROUGH;
-	/* FALLTHRU */
+            FALLTHROUGH;
+        /* FALLTHRU */
         case '?':
             nhusage();
             nethack_exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);