diff --git a/build.rs b/build.rs
index 98f9d5a..0035e54 100644
--- a/build.rs
+++ b/build.rs
@@ -30,9 +30,15 @@ fn main() {
         assert!(status.success(), "blueprint-compiler failed");
     }
 
-    // Compile GSettings schema
+    // Compile GSettings schema into data/ so dev builds can find it
     let schema_file = data_dir.join("net.jeena.FeedTheMonkey.gschema.xml");
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-changed={}", schema_file.display());
+    let status = Command::new("glib-compile-schemas")
+        .arg(&data_dir)
+        .status()
+        .expect("failed to run glib-compile-schemas — is it installed?");
+    assert!(status.success(), "glib-compile-schemas failed");
+    println!("cargo:rustc-env=GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR={}", data_dir.display());
 
     // Compile GResource
     let gresource_xml = data_dir.join("resources.gresource.xml");
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 3b2e3ea..5471cc8 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@ mod app;
 mod window;
 
 fn main() -> glib::ExitCode {
+    // In development builds, point GSettings at the locally compiled schema.
+    // In release/installed builds the schema is found via the system path.
+    if cfg!(debug_assertions) {
+        std::env::set_var("GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR", env!("GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR"));
+    }
+
     let app = app::FeedTheMonkeyApp::new();
     app.run()
 }