diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2490246a3..dab89e086 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ option(WARNINGS_ARE_ERRORS "Whether warnings in furnace's C++ code should be tre
 option(WITH_DEMOS "Install demo songs" ON)
 option(WITH_INSTRUMENTS "Install instruments" ON)
 option(WITH_WAVETABLES "Install wavetables" ON)
+option(SHOW_OPEN_ASSETS_MENU_ENTRY "Show option to open built-in assets directory (on supported platforms)" ON)
 
 set(DEPENDENCIES_INCLUDE_DIRS extern/IconFontCppHeaders src/icon)
 
@@ -1052,14 +1053,21 @@ if (NOT ANDROID OR TERMUX)
     install(DIRECTORY doc DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
     install(DIRECTORY papers DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DOCDIR}/other)
     install(FILES LICENSE DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DATADIR}/licenses/furnace)
-    if (WITH_DEMOS)
-      install(DIRECTORY demos DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DATADIR}/furnace)
-    endif()
-    if (WITH_INSTRUMENTS)
-      install(DIRECTORY instruments DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DATADIR}/furnace)
-    endif()
-    if (WITH_WAVETABLES)
-      install(DIRECTORY wavetables DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DATADIR}/furnace)
+    if (WITH_DEMOS OR WITH_INSTRUMENTS OR WITH_WAVETABLES)
+      set(FURNACE_DATADIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DATADIR}/furnace)
+      if (WITH_DEMOS)
+        install(DIRECTORY demos DESTINATION ${FURNACE_DATADIR})
+      endif()
+      if (WITH_INSTRUMENTS)
+        install(DIRECTORY instruments DESTINATION ${FURNACE_DATADIR})
+      endif()
+      if (WITH_WAVETABLES)
+        install(DIRECTORY wavetables DESTINATION ${FURNACE_DATADIR})
+      endif()
+      add_compile_definitions(FURNACE_DATADIR="${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${FURNACE_DATADIR}")
+      if (SHOW_OPEN_ASSETS_MENU_ENTRY)
+        add_compile_definitions(SHOW_OPEN_ASSETS_MENU_ENTRY)
+      endif()
     endif()
     foreach(num 16 32 64 128 256 512)
       set(res ${num}x${num})
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3bf73dc14..776b3bcf5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -272,6 +272,7 @@ Available options:
 | `WITH_DEMOS` | `ON` | Install demo songs on `make install` |
 | `WITH_INSTRUMENTS` | `ON` | Install demo instruments on `make install` |
 | `WITH_WAVETABLES` | `ON` | Install wavetables on `make install` |
+| `SHOW_OPEN_ASSETS_MENU_ENTRY` | `ON` | `Show option to open built-in assets directory (on supported platforms)` |
 
 (\*) `ON` if system-installed JACK detected, otherwise `OFF`
 
diff --git a/src/gui/gui.cpp b/src/gui/gui.cpp
index 3a0ec51be..56ac43a9c 100644
--- a/src/gui/gui.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/gui.cpp
@@ -4316,6 +4316,11 @@ bool FurnaceGUI::loop() {
             ImGui::EndMenu();
           }
         }
+#if defined(FURNACE_DATADIR) && defined(SHOW_OPEN_ASSETS_MENU_ENTRY)
+        if (ImGui::MenuItem("open built-in assets directory")) {
+          SDL_OpenURL("file://" FURNACE_DATADIR);
+        }
+#endif
         ImGui::BeginDisabled(exitDisabledTimer);
         ImGui::Separator();
         if (ImGui::MenuItem("restore backup",BIND_FOR(GUI_ACTION_OPEN_BACKUP))) {