diff --git a/chaos_monkey/config.py b/chaos_monkey/config.py
index b9d250cd8..c61912ac0 100644
--- a/chaos_monkey/config.py
+++ b/chaos_monkey/config.py
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ class Configuration(object):
     ###########################
 
     use_file_logging = True
-    dropper_log_path_windows = os.path.expandvars("%temp%\~df1562.tmp")
+    dropper_log_path_windows = '%temp%\\~df1562.tmp'
     dropper_log_path_linux = '/tmp/user-1562'
-    monkey_log_path_windows = os.path.expandvars("%temp%\~df1563.tmp")
+    monkey_log_path_windows = '%temp%\\~df1563.tmp'
     monkey_log_path_linux = '/tmp/user-1563'
 
     ###########################
@@ -113,14 +113,15 @@ class Configuration(object):
 
     dropper_try_move_first = sys.argv[0].endswith(".exe")
     dropper_set_date = True
-    dropper_date_reference_path = r"\windows\system32\kernel32.dll" if sys.platform == "win32" else '/bin/sh'
+    dropper_date_reference_path_windows = r"%windir%\system32\kernel32.dll"
+    dropper_date_reference_path_linux = '/bin/sh'
     dropper_target_path = r"C:\Windows\monkey.exe"
     dropper_target_path_linux = '/tmp/monkey'
 
     ###########################
     # Kill file
     ###########################
-    kill_file_path_windows = os.path.expandvars("%windir%\monkey.not")
+    kill_file_path_windows = '%windir%\\monkey.not'
     kill_file_path_linux = '/var/run/monkey.not'
 
     ###########################
diff --git a/chaos_monkey/dropper.py b/chaos_monkey/dropper.py
index 6d4133557..adbca1821 100644
--- a/chaos_monkey/dropper.py
+++ b/chaos_monkey/dropper.py
@@ -83,11 +83,15 @@ class MonkeyDrops(object):
                 return False
 
         if WormConfiguration.dropper_set_date:
+            if sys.platform == 'win32':
+                dropper_date_reference_path = os.path.expandvars(WormConfiguration.dropper_date_reference_path_windows)
+            else:
+                dropper_date_reference_path = WormConfiguration.dropper_date_reference_path_linux
             try:
-                ref_stat = os.stat(WormConfiguration.dropper_date_reference_path)
+                ref_stat = os.stat(dropper_date_reference_path)
             except:
                 LOG.warn("Cannot set reference date using '%s', file not found",
-                         WormConfiguration.dropper_date_reference_path)
+                         dropper_date_reference_path)
             else:
                 try:
                     os.utime(self._config['destination_path'],
diff --git a/chaos_monkey/example.conf b/chaos_monkey/example.conf
index 3db576ad3..e58f42387 100644
--- a/chaos_monkey/example.conf
+++ b/chaos_monkey/example.conf
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
     "collect_system_info": true,
     "depth": 2,
 
-    "dropper_date_reference_path": "/bin/sh",
+    "dropper_date_reference_path_windows": "%windir%\\system32\\kernel32.dll",
+    "dropper_date_reference_path_linux": "/bin/sh",
     "dropper_log_path_windows": "%temp%\\~df1562.tmp",
     "dropper_log_path_linux": "/tmp/user-1562",
     "dropper_set_date": true,
diff --git a/chaos_monkey/main.py b/chaos_monkey/main.py
index 2cc4ed484..231734d56 100644
--- a/chaos_monkey/main.py
+++ b/chaos_monkey/main.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def main():
     print "Loaded Configuration: %r" % WormConfiguration.as_dict()
 
     # Make sure we're not in a machine that has the kill file
-    kill_path = WormConfiguration.kill_file_path_windows if sys.platform == "win32" else WormConfiguration.kill_file_path_linux
+    kill_path = os.path.expandvars(WormConfiguration.kill_file_path_windows) if sys.platform == "win32" else WormConfiguration.kill_file_path_linux
     if os.path.exists(kill_path):
         print "Kill path found, finished run"
         return True
diff --git a/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py b/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py
index 6f6071aa3..491468bae 100644
--- a/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py
+++ b/monkey_island/cc/services/config.py
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ SCHEMA = {
                         "kill_file_path_windows": {
                             "title": "Kill file path on Windows",
                             "type": "string",
-                            "default": "C:\\Windows\\monkey.not",
+                            "default": "%windir%\\monkey.not",
                             "description": "Path of file which kills monkey if it exists (on Windows)"
                         },
                         "kill_file_path_linux": {
@@ -354,11 +354,17 @@ SCHEMA = {
                             "default": True,
                             "description": "Determines whether the dropper should set the monkey's file date to be the same as another file"
                         },
-                        "dropper_date_reference_path": {
-                            "title": "Droper date reference path",
+                        "dropper_date_reference_path_windows": {
+                            "title": "Dropper date reference path (Windows)",
                             "type": "string",
-                            "default": "\\windows\\system32\\kernel32.dll",
-                            "description": "Determines which file the dropper should copy the date from if it's configured to do so (use fullpath)"
+                            "default": "%windir%\\system32\\kernel32.dll",
+                            "description": "Determines which file the dropper should copy the date from if it's configured to do so on Windows (use fullpath)"
+                        },
+                        "dropper_date_reference_path_linux": {
+                            "title": "Dropper date reference path (Linux)",
+                            "type": "string",
+                            "default": "/bin/sh",
+                            "description": "Determines which file the dropper should copy the date from if it's configured to do so on Linux (use fullpath)"
                         },
                         "dropper_target_path_linux": {
                             "title": "Dropper target path on Linux",
@@ -393,7 +399,7 @@ SCHEMA = {
                         "dropper_log_path_windows": {
                             "title": "Dropper log file path on Windows",
                             "type": "string",
-                            "default": "C:\\Users\\user\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\~df1562.tmp",
+                            "default": "%temp%\\~df1562.tmp",
                             "description": "The fullpath of the dropper log file on Windows"
                         },
                         "monkey_log_path_linux": {
@@ -405,7 +411,7 @@ SCHEMA = {
                         "monkey_log_path_windows": {
                             "title": "Monkey log file path on Windows",
                             "type": "string",
-                            "default":"C:\\Users\\user\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\~df1563.tmp",
+                            "default": "%temp%\\~df1563.tmp",
                             "description": "The fullpath of the monkey log file on Windows"
                         }
                     }