diff --git a/breadbot/__main__.py b/breadbot/__main__.py
index 9c683f9..2c82c68 100644
--- a/breadbot/__main__.py
+++ b/breadbot/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import argparse
 import re
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
 
 import yaml
 from irc.client import Event, NickMask, ServerConnection  # type: ignore
@@ -11,6 +13,15 @@ RELAY_REGEX = re.compile(r'^<([^@]+@(?:tilde|bread))>\s?(.*)$')
 
 class BreadBot(bot.Bot):
 
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        *args: Any,
+        data_path: str = '/bread/breadbot',
+        **kwargs: Any,
+    ):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.data_path = Path(data_path)
+
     def on_welcome(self, c: ServerConnection, e: Event) -> None:
         c.mode(self.bot_nick, '+B')
         super().on_welcome(c, e)
diff --git a/breadbot/plugins/bread.py b/breadbot/plugins/bread.py
index 4811812..7f47bea 100644
--- a/breadbot/plugins/bread.py
+++ b/breadbot/plugins/bread.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import random
 import re
-from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
 
 from pinhook import plugin  # type: ignore
@@ -9,14 +8,11 @@ from pinhook.bot import Bot  # type: ignore
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-data_path = Path('/bread/breadbot')
-count_file = data_path / 'breadcount.txt'
-messages_file = data_path / 'bread_messages.txt'
-
 word_regex = re.compile(r'\W')
 
 
-def get_that_bread() -> str:
+def get_that_bread(ctx: Bot.Message) -> str:
+    messages_file = ctx.bot.data_path / 'bread_messages.txt'
     try:
         bread_messages = messages_file.read_text().strip().splitlines()
         assert bread_messages
@@ -30,7 +26,8 @@ def get_that_bread() -> str:
     return random.choice(bread_messages)
 
 
-def increment_bread() -> None:
+def increment_bread(ctx: Bot.Message) -> None:
+    count_file = ctx.bot.data_path / 'breadcount.txt'
     try:
         count = int(count_file.read_text().strip())
     except (IOError, TypeError, ValueError):
@@ -45,9 +42,9 @@ def increment_bread() -> None:
 def bread(ctx: Bot.Message) -> Optional[plugin.Output]:
     words = set(word_regex.split(ctx.text.lower()))
     if 'bread' in words:
-        increment_bread()
+        increment_bread(ctx)
     if words == {'bread'}:
-        return plugin.message(get_that_bread())
+        return plugin.message(get_that_bread(ctx))
     return None
 
 
@@ -58,7 +55,7 @@ def bread(ctx: Bot.Message) -> Optional[plugin.Output]:
     ops_msg='This command is restricted to breadpunk admins.'
 )
 def nukethebread(ctx: Bot.Message) -> plugin.Output:
-    count_file.write_text('0')
+    (ctx.bot.data_path / 'breadcount.txt').write_text('0')
     return plugin.message('Bread count has been reset.')
 
 
@@ -67,13 +64,15 @@ def nukethebread(ctx: Bot.Message) -> plugin.Output:
     help_text='How many times did bakers say bread here?',
 )
 def breadcount(ctx: Bot.Message) -> plugin.Output:
+    count_file = ctx.bot.data_path / 'breadcount.txt'
     try:
         count = int(count_file.read_text().strip())
-    except (IOError, TypeError, ValueError):
+    except (IOError, TypeError, ValueError) as e:
         return plugin.message(
             'something is wrong with the breadcount! '
             'quick, scream at lucitoast'
         )
+        logger.warning('breadcount is broken!', exc_info=e)
     else:
         return plugin.message(
             f'{count} bread{"s" if count != 1 else ""} so far'
diff --git a/config.yml.sample b/config.yml.sample
index 674f838..447806e 100644
--- a/config.yml.sample
+++ b/config.yml.sample
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ channels:
   - '#bread'
 
 plugin_dir: breadbot/plugins
+data_path: /bread/breadbot