diff --git a/src/calamares/CalamaresApplication.cpp b/src/calamares/CalamaresApplication.cpp
index e41516c60..018e2b677 100644
--- a/src/calamares/CalamaresApplication.cpp
+++ b/src/calamares/CalamaresApplication.cpp
@@ -133,60 +133,93 @@ CalamaresApplication::mainWindow()
 }
 
 
+static QStringList
+qmlDirCandidates( bool assumeBuilddir )
+{
+    static const char QML[] = "qml";
+
+    QStringList qmlDirs;
+    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+        qmlDirs << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( QML );
+    else
+    {
+        if ( assumeBuilddir )
+            qmlDirs << QDir::current().absoluteFilePath( "src/qml" );  // In build-dir
+        qmlDirs << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( QML );
+    }
+
+    return qmlDirs;
+}
+
+
+static QStringList
+settingsFileCandidates( bool assumeBuilddir )
+{
+    static const char settings[] = "settings.conf";
+
+    QStringList settingsPaths;
+    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+        settingsPaths << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( settings );
+    else
+    {
+        if ( assumeBuilddir )
+            settingsPaths << QDir::current().absoluteFilePath( settings );
+        settingsPaths << CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_SYSCONFDIR "/calamares/settings.conf";  // String concat
+        settingsPaths << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( settings );
+    }
+
+    return settingsPaths;
+}
+
+
+static QStringList
+brandingFileCandidates( bool assumeBuilddir, const QString& brandingFilename )
+{
+    QStringList brandingPaths;
+    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+        brandingPaths << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( brandingFilename );
+    else
+    {
+        if ( assumeBuilddir )
+            brandingPaths << ( QDir::currentPath() + QStringLiteral( "/src/" ) + brandingFilename );
+        brandingPaths << QDir( CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_SYSCONFDIR "/calamares/" ).absoluteFilePath( brandingFilename );
+        brandingPaths << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( brandingFilename);
+    }
+
+    return brandingPaths;
+}
+
+
 void
 CalamaresApplication::initQmlPath()
 {
-    QDir importPath;
+    QDir importPath;  // Right now, current-dir
+    QStringList qmlDirCandidatesByPriority = qmlDirCandidates( isDebug() );
+    bool found = false;
 
-    QString subpath( "qml" );
-
-    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+    foreach ( const QString& path, qmlDirCandidatesByPriority )
     {
-        importPath = QDir( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir()
-                           .absoluteFilePath( subpath ) );
-        if ( !importPath.exists() || !importPath.isReadable() )
+        QDir dir( path );
+        if ( dir.exists() && dir.isReadable() )
         {
-            cError() << "FATAL: explicitly configured application data directory"
-                   << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absolutePath()
-                   << "does not contain a valid QML modules directory at"
-                   << importPath.absolutePath()
-                   << "\nCowardly refusing to continue startup without the QML directory.";
-            ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        QStringList qmlDirCandidatesByPriority;
-        if ( isDebug() )
-        {
-            qmlDirCandidatesByPriority.append(
-                        QDir::current().absoluteFilePath(
-                        QString( "src/%1" )
-                            .arg( subpath ) ) );
-        }
-        qmlDirCandidatesByPriority.append( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir()
-                            .absoluteFilePath( subpath ) );
-
-        foreach ( const QString& path, qmlDirCandidatesByPriority )
-        {
-            QDir dir( path );
-            if ( dir.exists() && dir.isReadable() )
-            {
-                importPath = dir;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        if ( !importPath.exists() || !importPath.isReadable() )
-        {
-            cError() << "FATAL: none of the expected QML paths ("
-                   << qmlDirCandidatesByPriority.join( ", " )
-                   << ") exist."
-                   << "\nCowardly refusing to continue startup without the QML directory.";
-            ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
+            importPath = dir;
+            found = true;
+            break;
         }
     }
 
+    if ( !found || !importPath.exists() || !importPath.isReadable() )
+    {
+        cError() << "Cowardly refusing to continue startup without a QML directory."
+            << Logger::DebugList( qmlDirCandidatesByPriority );
+        if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+            cError() << "FATAL: explicitly configured application data directory is missing qml/";
+        else
+            cError() << "FATAL: none of the expected QML paths exist.";
+        ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
+    }
+
+    cDebug() << "Using Calamares QML directory" << importPath.absolutePath();
     CalamaresUtils::setQmlModulesDir( importPath );
 }
 
@@ -194,51 +227,31 @@ CalamaresApplication::initQmlPath()
 void
 CalamaresApplication::initSettings()
 {
+    QStringList settingsFileCandidatesByPriority = settingsFileCandidates( isDebug() );
+
     QFileInfo settingsFile;
-    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+    bool found = false;
+
+    foreach ( const QString& path, settingsFileCandidatesByPriority )
     {
-        settingsFile = QFileInfo( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( "settings.conf" ) );
-        if ( !settingsFile.exists() || !settingsFile.isReadable() )
+        QFileInfo pathFi( path );
+        if ( pathFi.exists() && pathFi.isReadable() )
         {
-            cError() << "FATAL: explicitly configured application data directory"
-                   << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absolutePath()
-                   << "does not contain a valid settings.conf file."
-                   << "\nCowardly refusing to continue startup without settings.";
-            ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
+            settingsFile = pathFi;
+            found = true;
+            break;
         }
     }
-    else
+
+    if ( !found || !settingsFile.exists() || !settingsFile.isReadable() )
     {
-        QStringList settingsFileCandidatesByPriority;
-        if ( isDebug() )
-        {
-            settingsFileCandidatesByPriority.append(
-                QDir::currentPath() +
-                QDir::separator() +
-                "settings.conf" );
-        }
-        settingsFileCandidatesByPriority.append( CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_SYSCONFDIR "/calamares/settings.conf" );
-        settingsFileCandidatesByPriority.append( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir()
-                                                    .absoluteFilePath( "settings.conf" ) );
-
-        foreach ( const QString& path, settingsFileCandidatesByPriority )
-        {
-            QFileInfo pathFi( path );
-            if ( pathFi.exists() && pathFi.isReadable() )
-            {
-                settingsFile = pathFi;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        if ( !settingsFile.exists() || !settingsFile.isReadable() )
-        {
-            cError() << "FATAL: none of the expected configuration file paths ("
-                   << settingsFileCandidatesByPriority.join( ", " )
-                   << ") contain a valid settings.conf file."
-                   << "\nCowardly refusing to continue startup without settings.";
-            ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
-        }
+        cError() << "Cowardly refusing to continue startup without settings."
+            << Logger::DebugList( settingsFileCandidatesByPriority );
+        if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+            cError() << "FATAL: explicitly configured application data directory is missing settings.conf";
+        else
+            cError() << "FATAL: none of the expected configuration file paths exist.";
+        ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
     }
 
     new Calamares::Settings( settingsFile.absoluteFilePath(), isDebug(), this );
@@ -255,59 +268,32 @@ CalamaresApplication::initBranding()
         ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
     }
 
-    QString brandingDescriptorSubpath = QString( "branding/%1/branding.desc" )
-                                        .arg( brandingComponentName );
+    QString brandingDescriptorSubpath = QString( "branding/%1/branding.desc" ).arg( brandingComponentName );
+    QStringList brandingFileCandidatesByPriority = brandingFileCandidates( isDebug(), brandingDescriptorSubpath);
 
     QFileInfo brandingFile;
-    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+    bool found = false;
+
+    foreach ( const QString& path, brandingFileCandidatesByPriority )
     {
-        brandingFile = QFileInfo( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir()
-                                  .absoluteFilePath( brandingDescriptorSubpath ) );
-        if ( !brandingFile.exists() || !brandingFile.isReadable() )
+        QFileInfo pathFi( path );
+        if ( pathFi.exists() && pathFi.isReadable() )
         {
-            cError() << "FATAL: explicitly configured application data directory"
-                   << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absolutePath()
-                   << "does not contain a valid branding component descriptor at"
-                   << brandingFile.absoluteFilePath()
-                   << "\nCowardly refusing to continue startup without branding.";
-            ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
+            brandingFile = pathFi;
+            found = true;
+            break;
         }
     }
-    else
+
+    if ( !found || !brandingFile.exists() || !brandingFile.isReadable() )
     {
-        QStringList brandingFileCandidatesByPriority;
-        if ( isDebug() )
-        {
-            brandingFileCandidatesByPriority.append(
-                QDir::currentPath() +
-                QDir::separator() +
-                "src" +
-                QDir::separator() +
-                brandingDescriptorSubpath );
-        }
-        brandingFileCandidatesByPriority.append( QDir( CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_SYSCONFDIR "/calamares/" )
-                                                 .absoluteFilePath( brandingDescriptorSubpath ) );
-        brandingFileCandidatesByPriority.append( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir()
-                                                 .absoluteFilePath( brandingDescriptorSubpath ) );
-
-        foreach ( const QString& path, brandingFileCandidatesByPriority )
-        {
-            QFileInfo pathFi( path );
-            if ( pathFi.exists() && pathFi.isReadable() )
-            {
-                brandingFile = pathFi;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        if ( !brandingFile.exists() || !brandingFile.isReadable() )
-        {
-            cError() << "FATAL: none of the expected branding descriptor file paths ("
-                   << brandingFileCandidatesByPriority.join( ", " )
-                   << ") contain a valid branding.desc file."
-                   << "\nCowardly refusing to continue startup without branding.";
-            ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
-        }
+        cError() << "Cowardly refusing to continue startup without branding."
+            << Logger::DebugList( brandingFileCandidatesByPriority );
+        if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+            cError() << "FATAL: explicitly configured application data directory is missing" << brandingComponentName;
+        else
+            cError() << "FATAL: none of the expected branding descriptor file paths exist.";
+        ::exit( EXIT_FAILURE );
     }
 
     new Calamares::Branding( brandingFile.absoluteFilePath(), this );
diff --git a/src/calamares/main.cpp b/src/calamares/main.cpp
index d4bd2743d..9893e6792 100644
--- a/src/calamares/main.cpp
+++ b/src/calamares/main.cpp
@@ -108,7 +108,14 @@ main( int argc, char* argv[] )
         returnCode = a.exec();
     }
     else
+    {
+        auto instancelist = guard.instances();
         qDebug() << "Calamares is already running, shutting down.";
+        if ( instancelist.count() > 0 )
+            qDebug() << "Other running Calamares instances:";
+        for ( const auto& i : instancelist )
+            qDebug() << "  " << i.isValid() << i.pid() << i.arguments();
+    }
 
     return returnCode;
 }
diff --git a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp
index ed1cb33ea..8d92c37ad 100644
--- a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp
+++ b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp
@@ -44,14 +44,6 @@
 #include <QString>
 
 
-// Example module.desc
-/*
----
-type:      "view"      #job or view
-name:      "foo"      #the module name. must be unique and same as the parent directory
-interface: "qtplugin" #can be: qtplugin, python, process, ...
-*/
-
 static const char EMERGENCY[] = "emergency";
 
 namespace Calamares
@@ -144,34 +136,29 @@ Module::fromDescriptor( const QVariantMap& moduleDescriptor,
 }
 
 
+static QStringList
+moduleConfigurationCandidates( bool assumeBuildDir, const QString& moduleName, const QString& configFileName )
+{
+    QStringList paths;
+
+    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
+        paths << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( QString( "modules/%1" ).arg( configFileName ) );
+    else
+    {
+        if ( assumeBuildDir )
+            paths << QDir().absoluteFilePath(QString( "src/modules/%1/%2" ).arg( moduleName ).arg( configFileName ) );
+
+        paths << QString( "/etc/calamares/modules/%1" ).arg( configFileName );
+        paths << CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( QString( "modules/%1" ).arg( configFileName ) );
+    }
+
+    return paths;
+}
+
 void
 Module::loadConfigurationFile( const QString& configFileName ) //throws YAML::Exception
 {
-    QStringList configFilesByPriority;
-
-    if ( CalamaresUtils::isAppDataDirOverridden() )
-    {
-        configFilesByPriority.append(
-            CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath(
-                QString( "modules/%1" ).arg( configFileName ) ) );
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        if ( Settings::instance()->debugMode() )
-        {
-            configFilesByPriority.append(
-                QDir( QDir::currentPath() ).absoluteFilePath(
-                    QString( "src/modules/%1/%2" ).arg( m_name ).arg( configFileName ) ) );
-        }
-
-        configFilesByPriority.append(
-            QString( "/etc/calamares/modules/%1" ).arg( configFileName ) );
-        configFilesByPriority.append(
-            CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath(
-                QString( "modules/%2" ).arg( configFileName ) ) );
-    }
-
-    foreach ( const QString& path, configFilesByPriority )
+    foreach ( const QString& path, moduleConfigurationCandidates( Settings::instance()->debugMode(), m_name, configFileName ) )
     {
         QFile configFile( path );
         if ( configFile.exists() && configFile.open( QFile::ReadOnly | QFile::Text ) )