diff --git a/git-mergetool.sh b/git-mergetool.sh
index e6bbb6bbd6..90a69b3465 100755
--- a/git-mergetool.sh
+++ b/git-mergetool.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ SUBDIRECTORY_OK=Yes
 . git-sh-setup
 require_work_tree
 
+KDIFF3=kdiff3
+
 # Returns true if the mode reflects a symlink
 is_symlink () {
     test "$1" = 120000
@@ -191,10 +193,10 @@ merge_file () {
     case "$merge_tool" in
 	kdiff3)
 	    if base_present ; then
-		(kdiff3 --auto --L1 "$path (Base)" -L2 "$path (Local)" --L3 "$path (Remote)" \
+		("$KDIFF3" --auto --L1 "$path (Base)" -L2 "$path (Local)" --L3 "$path (Remote)" \
 		    -o "$path" -- "$BASE" "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE" > /dev/null 2>&1)
 	    else
-		(kdiff3 --auto -L1 "$path (Local)" --L2 "$path (Remote)" \
+		("$KDIFF3" --auto -L1 "$path (Local)" --L2 "$path (Remote)" \
 		    -o "$path" -- "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE" > /dev/null 2>&1)
 	    fi
 	    status=$?