--- a/package-lint.el
+++ b/package-lint.el
@@ -113,11 +113,9 @@ optional minimum version containing the feature.")
 (defun package-lint--load-data (file)
   "Load sexp data from FILE."
   (with-temp-buffer
-    (insert-file-contents
-     (expand-file-name file
-                       (if load-file-name
-                           (file-name-directory load-file-name)
-                         default-directory)))
+    (let ((ef (expand-file-name file "@SITEETC@")))
+      (insert-file-contents
+       (if (file-exists-p ef) ef file)))
     (read (current-buffer))))
 
 (defconst package-lint-symbol-info