diff --git a/pymmd/mmd.py b/pymmd/mmd.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/pymmd/mmd.py
+++ b/pymmd/mmd.py
@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@
 """Interface to the MultiMarkdown parser."""
 
 import os.path
-
+import platform
 import ctypes
 import ctypes.util
 
+from .download import SHLIB_EXT
 try:
-    _LIB_LOCATION = ctypes.util.find_library('MultiMarkdown')
+    _LIB_FILE = 'libMultiMarkdown' + SHLIB_EXT[platform.system()]
+    _LIB_LOCATION = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'files', _LIB_FILE))
+
+    if not path.exists(_LIB_LOCATION):
+        _LIB_LOCATION = ctypes.util.find_library('MultiMarkdown')
 
     _MMD_LIB = ctypes.cdll.LoadLibrary(_LIB_LOCATION)
 except TypeError:
Attempt to use locally built version of libMultiMarkdown before attempting system install