diff --git a/internal/cli/doctor.go b/internal/cli/doctor.go
index ae5acc3..3b3ea90 100644
--- a/internal/cli/doctor.go
+++ b/internal/cli/doctor.go
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ func Doctor(ctx context.Context, d DoctorDeps) []Check {
 			if err != nil {
 				add("service_definition", "warn", err.Error(), "check the service plist; driga service install")
 			} else if stale {
-				add("service_definition", "warn", "the service plist points at a stale binary", "driga service install")
+				add("service_definition", "warn", "the service plist runs another binary or collects into another data directory", "driga service install")
 			}
 		}
 		status := d.NotificationStatus
diff --git a/internal/service/bundle.go b/internal/service/bundle.go
index b5a1071..b33d7e4 100644
--- a/internal/service/bundle.go
+++ b/internal/service/bundle.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/labstack/driga/internal/config"
 	"github.com/labstack/driga/internal/self"
 )
 
@@ -60,8 +61,11 @@ func IsDaemon(binPath string) bool {
 	return name == "drigad" || strings.HasPrefix(name, "drigad-")
 }
 
-// PlistStale is a read-only diagnostic. Compare path strings, not inode identity:
-// an old bare PATH symlink can still resolve to the new bundle executable.
+// PlistStale is a read-only diagnostic: the plist runs another executable, lacks
+// the bundle association, or collects into another data directory than this
+// process uses, so its clients would find no service. Compare path strings,
+// not inode identity: an old bare PATH symlink can still resolve to the new
+// bundle executable.
 func PlistStale(path, binPath string) (bool, error) {
 	data, err := os.Open(path)
 	if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
@@ -126,7 +130,14 @@ func PlistStale(path, binPath string) (bool, error) {
 	if executable == "" {
 		return false, errors.New("service plist has no ProgramArguments executable")
 	}
-	return executable != DaemonPath(ExecutablePath(binPath)) || (BundlePath(binPath) != "" && !associated), nil
+	if executable != DaemonPath(ExecutablePath(binPath)) || (BundlePath(binPath) != "" && !associated) {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	dir, err := plistEnv(path, "DRIGA_DATA_DIR")
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return resolveDataDir(dir) != config.DataDir(), nil
 }
 
 // plistEnv is the value the collector plist at path sets for the environment
diff --git a/internal/service/bundle_test.go b/internal/service/bundle_test.go
index 225fe1f..52dd85c 100644
--- a/internal/service/bundle_test.go
+++ b/internal/service/bundle_test.go
@@ -123,3 +123,44 @@ func TestPlistEnv(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("missing plist read")
 	}
 }
+
+// A plist that collects into another data directory than this process uses is
+// stale, so install rewrites it and doctor reports it: its clients would
+// otherwise find no service and fall back to snapshot mode.
+func TestPlistStaleDataDir(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("launchd plist")
+	}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	bin := filepath.Join(dir, "driga")
+	plistPath := filepath.Join(dir, "collector.plist")
+	write := func(dataDir string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		t.Setenv("DRIGA_DATA_DIR", dataDir)
+		body, err := renderLaunchd(configForOS(bin, "darwin"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(plistPath, body, 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	data := filepath.Join(dir, "Application Support", "driga")
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name, recorded, current string
+		stale                   bool
+	}{
+		{"same", data, data, false},
+		{"escaped space", filepath.Join(dir, `Application\ Support`, "driga"), data, true},
+		{"other", filepath.Join(dir, "other"), data, true},
+		{"unset matches default", "", "", false},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			write(tc.recorded)
+			t.Setenv("DRIGA_DATA_DIR", tc.current)
+			if stale, err := PlistStale(plistPath, bin); err != nil || stale != tc.stale {
+				t.Fatalf("stale = %t, %v; want %t", stale, err, tc.stale)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/service/launchd_darwin.go b/internal/service/launchd_darwin.go
index cc1a31e..f1e8f5e 100644
--- a/internal/service/launchd_darwin.go
+++ b/internal/service/launchd_darwin.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package service
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -68,6 +69,9 @@ func (s *launchdController) Install() error {
 		if !stale {
 			return nil
 		}
+		if dir, err := s.recordedDataDir(); err == nil && resolveDataDir(dir) != config.DataDir() {
+			slog.Info("the Driga service collected into another data directory; moving it to this one", "event", "service_data_dir_moved", "from", resolveDataDir(dir), "to", config.DataDir())
+		}
 		status, err := s.Status()
 		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, ks.ErrNotInstalled) {
 			return err
diff --git a/internal/service/service.go b/internal/service/service.go
index fb83226..3ee567c 100644
--- a/internal/service/service.go
+++ b/internal/service/service.go
@@ -176,10 +176,19 @@ func DataDir(c Controller) (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
+	return resolveDataDir(dir), nil
+}
+
+// resolveDataDir is the directory a service definition's DRIGA_DATA_DIR
+// names, or the default when it records none.
+func resolveDataDir(dir string) string {
 	if dir == "" {
-		return config.DefaultDataDir(), nil
+		return config.DefaultDataDir()
+	}
+	if abs, err := filepath.Abs(config.ExpandHome(dir)); err == nil {
+		return abs
 	}
-	return filepath.Abs(config.ExpandHome(dir))
+	return filepath.Clean(config.ExpandHome(dir))
 }
 
 type controlOnly struct{}