diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index ac291dad17a..79b21606f99 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,23 @@ if vim.fn.empty(vim.fn.glob(install_path)) > 0 then
   vim.cmd [[packadd packer.nvim]]
 end
 
-require('packer').startup(function(use)
+-- Use a protected call so we don't error out on first use
+local status_ok, packer = pcall(require, "packer")
+if not status_ok then
+  return
+end
+local status_packer_util_ok, packer_util = pcall(require, "packer.util")
+if not status_packer_util_ok then
+  return
+end
+
+-- Have packer use a popup window
+packer.init({
+  package_root = packer_util.join_paths(vim.fn.stdpath('data'), 'site', 'pack'),
+  compile_path = packer_util.join_paths(vim.fn.stdpath('data'), 'site', 'plugin', 'packer_compiled.lua'),
+})
+
+packer.startup(function(use)
   -- Package manager
   use 'wbthomason/packer.nvim'