diff --git a/Sources/Config.php b/Sources/Config.php
index 2b63cb6985..370b69a65b 100644
--- a/Sources/Config.php
+++ b/Sources/Config.php
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ class Config
 				 * Path to the cache directory for the file-based cache system.
 				 */
 				END,
-			'default' => 'dirname(__FILE__) . \'/cache\'',
+			'default' => '__DIR__ . \'/cache\'',
 			'raw_default' => true,
 			'type' => 'string',
 		],
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ class Config
 				 * The absolute path to the forum's folder. (not just '.'!)
 				 */
 				END,
-			'default' => 'dirname(__FILE__)',
+			'default' => '__DIR__',
 			'raw_default' => true,
 			'type' => 'string',
 		],
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ class Config
 				 * Path to the Sources directory.
 				 */
 				END,
-			'default' => 'dirname(__FILE__) . \'/Sources\'',
+			'default' => '__DIR__ . \'/Sources\'',
 			'raw_default' => true,
 			'type' => 'string',
 		],
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ class Config
 				 * Path to the Packages directory.
 				 */
 				END,
-			'default' => 'dirname(__FILE__) . \'/Packages\'',
+			'default' => '__DIR__ . \'/Packages\'',
 			'raw_default' => true,
 			'type' => 'string',
 		],
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ public static function set(array $settings): void
 						'__DIR__' => var_export(dirname(SMF_SETTINGS_FILE), true),
 					]);
 
-					self::${$var} = eval($default . ';');
+					self::${$var} = eval('return ' . $default . ';');
 				} else {
 					self::${$var} = $def['default'];
 				}
diff --git a/other/Settings.php b/other/Settings.php
index 3b7e0ccae6..920e6aff93 100644
--- a/other/Settings.php
+++ b/other/Settings.php
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
  *
  * Path to the cache directory for the file-based cache system.
  */
-$cachedir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/cache';
+$cachedir = __DIR__ . '/cache';
 
 ########## Image Proxy ##########
 /**
@@ -202,25 +202,25 @@
  *
  * The absolute path to the forum's folder. (not just '.'!)
  */
-$boarddir = dirname(__FILE__);
+$boarddir = __DIR__;
 /**
  * @var string
  *
  * Path to the Sources directory.
  */
-$sourcedir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/Sources';
+$sourcedir = __DIR__ . '/Sources';
 /**
  * @var string
  *
  * Path to the Packages directory.
  */
-$packagesdir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/Packages';
+$packagesdir = __DIR__ . '/Packages';
 /**
  * @var string
  *
  * Path to the language directory.
  */
-$languagesdir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/Languages';
+$languagesdir = __DIR__ . '/Languages';
 
 ######### Modification Support #########
 /**
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
  */
 $db_character_set = 'utf8';
 
-if (file_exists(dirname(__FILE__) . '/install.php'))
+if (file_exists(__DIR__ . '/install.php'))
 {
 	$secure = false;
 	if (isset($_SERVER['HTTPS']) && $_SERVER['HTTPS'] == 'on')
diff --git a/other/Settings_bak.php b/other/Settings_bak.php
index 3b7e0ccae6..920e6aff93 100644
--- a/other/Settings_bak.php
+++ b/other/Settings_bak.php
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
  *
  * Path to the cache directory for the file-based cache system.
  */
-$cachedir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/cache';
+$cachedir = __DIR__ . '/cache';
 
 ########## Image Proxy ##########
 /**
@@ -202,25 +202,25 @@
  *
  * The absolute path to the forum's folder. (not just '.'!)
  */
-$boarddir = dirname(__FILE__);
+$boarddir = __DIR__;
 /**
  * @var string
  *
  * Path to the Sources directory.
  */
-$sourcedir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/Sources';
+$sourcedir = __DIR__ . '/Sources';
 /**
  * @var string
  *
  * Path to the Packages directory.
  */
-$packagesdir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/Packages';
+$packagesdir = __DIR__ . '/Packages';
 /**
  * @var string
  *
  * Path to the language directory.
  */
-$languagesdir = dirname(__FILE__) . '/Languages';
+$languagesdir = __DIR__ . '/Languages';
 
 ######### Modification Support #########
 /**
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
  */
 $db_character_set = 'utf8';
 
-if (file_exists(dirname(__FILE__) . '/install.php'))
+if (file_exists(__DIR__ . '/install.php'))
 {
 	$secure = false;
 	if (isset($_SERVER['HTTPS']) && $_SERVER['HTTPS'] == 'on')