diff --git a/builder/pyinstaller_build_macos.py b/builder/pyinstaller_build_macos.py
index 4bf9d33e..94bdbe3f 100644
--- a/builder/pyinstaller_build_macos.py
+++ b/builder/pyinstaller_build_macos.py
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@
 
 PyInstaller.__main__.run(
     [
+        "--add-data=LICENSE:.",
+        "--add-data=README.md:.",
+        "--add-data={}:profiles/".format(
+            (package_folder / "profiles/shortcut_freedesktop.template/").resolve()
+        ),
         "--log-level={}".format(getenv("PYINSTALLER_LOG_LEVEL", "WARN")),
         "--name={}_{}_MacOS{}_Python{}-{}".format(
             __about__.__title_clean__,
diff --git a/builder/pyinstaller_build_ubuntu.py b/builder/pyinstaller_build_ubuntu.py
index 4f39a672..dcd3af2a 100644
--- a/builder/pyinstaller_build_ubuntu.py
+++ b/builder/pyinstaller_build_ubuntu.py
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@
 
 PyInstaller.__main__.run(
     [
+        "--add-data=LICENSE:.",
+        "--add-data=README.md:.",
+        "--add-data={}:profiles/".format(
+            (package_folder / "profiles/shortcut_freedesktop.template/").resolve()
+        ),
         "--log-level={}".format(getenv("PYINSTALLER_LOG_LEVEL", "WARN")),
         "--name={}_{}_{}{}_{}_Python{}".format(
             __about__.__title_clean__,
diff --git a/builder/pyinstaller_build_windows.py b/builder/pyinstaller_build_windows.py
index 45b89eb4..7255b0b2 100644
--- a/builder/pyinstaller_build_windows.py
+++ b/builder/pyinstaller_build_windows.py
@@ -28,8 +28,11 @@
 
 PyInstaller.__main__.run(
     [
-        "--add-data=LICENSE;.",
-        "--add-data=README.md;.",
+        "--add-data=LICENSE:.",
+        "--add-data=README.md:.",
+        "--add-data={}:profiles/".format(
+            (package_folder / "profiles/shortcut_freedesktop.template/").resolve()
+        ),
         # "--clean",
         f"--icon={package_folder.parent.resolve()}/docs/static/logo_qdt.ico",
         "--log-level={}".format(getenv("PYINSTALLER_LOG_LEVEL", "WARN")),
diff --git a/qgis_deployment_toolbelt/profiles/shortcuts.py b/qgis_deployment_toolbelt/profiles/shortcuts.py
index 1f570a58..4d71e028 100644
--- a/qgis_deployment_toolbelt/profiles/shortcuts.py
+++ b/qgis_deployment_toolbelt/profiles/shortcuts.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import os
 import re
 import stat
+import sys
 from collections.abc import Iterable
 from pathlib import Path
 from string import Template
@@ -342,8 +343,19 @@ def freedesktop_create(self) -> tuple[Path | None, Path | None]:
         :return: desktop and startmenu path
         :rtype: Tuple[Union[Path, None], Union[Path, None]]
         """
-        # prepare shortcut
-        template_shortcut = Path(__file__).parent / "shortcut_freedesktop.template"
+        # grab shortcut template depending if we are in frozen mode
+        # (typically PyInstaller) or as "normal" Python
+        if not (getattr(sys, "frozen", False) and hasattr(sys, "_MEIPASS")):
+            template_shortcut = Path(__file__).parent / "shortcut_freedesktop.template"
+            logger.debug(f"Using shortcut template in Python mode: {template_shortcut}")
+        else:
+            template_shortcut = Path(getattr(sys, "_MEIPASS", sys.executable)).joinpath(
+                "profiles/shortcut_freedesktop.template"
+            )
+            logger.debug(
+                f"Using shortcut template in packaged mode: {template_shortcut}"
+            )
+
         check_path(
             input_path=template_shortcut,
             must_be_a_file=True,