diff --git a/include/contact_widgets.php b/include/contact_widgets.php
index fc1f7191ba..14cb13cdee 100644
--- a/include/contact_widgets.php
+++ b/include/contact_widgets.php
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 use Friendica\App;
+use Friendica\Core\Config;
 
 function follow_widget($value = "") {
 
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ function findpeople_widget() {
 	require_once 'include/Contact.php';
 
 	$a = get_app();
+    $global_dir = Config::get('system', 'directory');
 
 	if (get_config('system', 'invitation_only')) {
 		$x = get_pconfig(local_user(), 'system', 'invites_remaining');
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@ function findpeople_widget() {
 		'$similar' => t('Similar Interests'),
 		'$random' => t('Random Profile'),
 		'$inv' => t('Invite Friends'),
-		'$directory' => t('View Global Directory')
+		'$directory' => t('View Global Directory'),
+        '$global_dir' => $global_dir
 	));
 
 }
diff --git a/view/templates/peoplefind.tpl b/view/templates/peoplefind.tpl
index 0d1c6c79ba..6cbe42e737 100644
--- a/view/templates/peoplefind.tpl
+++ b/view/templates/peoplefind.tpl
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 	</form>
 	<div class="side-link" id="side-match-link"><a href="match" >{{$similar}}</a></div>
 	<div class="side-link" id="side-suggest-link"><a href="suggest" >{{$suggest}}</a></div>
-	<div class="side-link" id="side-directory-link"><a href="directory" >{{$directory}}</a></div>
+	<div class="side-link" id="side-directory-link"><a href={{$global_dir}} target="extlink" >{{$directory}}</a></div>
 	<div class="side-link" id="side-random-profile-link" ><a href="randprof" target="extlink" >{{$random}}</a></div>
 	{{if $inv}} 
 	<div class="side-link" id="side-invite-link" ><a href="invite" >{{$inv}}</a></div>