diff --git a/sat/core/constants.py b/sat/core/constants.py
index 42becedb..cfa982e5 100644
--- a/sat/core/constants.py
+++ b/sat/core/constants.py
@@ -453,7 +453,9 @@ if (
         ]
     else:
         import os
-        root_dir = dirname(sat.__file__) + '/'
+        # we use parent of "sat" module dir as last config path, this is useful for
+        # per instance configurations (e.g. a dev instance and a main instance)
+        root_dir = dirname(dirname(sat.__file__)) + '/'
         Const.CONFIG_PATHS = (
             ["/etc/", "~/", "~/."]
             + [