diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4965084..5a4433b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,19 +32,14 @@ now run the installer script:
 
 ## MANUAL INSTALLATION
 
-1.  `mkdir ~/quicklisp` and `cd ~/quicklisp`
-2.  Go to <https://beta.quicklisp.org/client/quicklisp.sexp> and lookup `:client-tar` URL, download it, verify
-    hash and untar.
-3.  Clone ql-https from <https://github.com/rudolfochrist/ql-https.git> to
-    to `~/common-lisp/ql-https`
-4.  Disconnect internet. (Prevent that anything leaks over HTTP during the installation)
-5.  Start a fresh REPL and (require 'asdf)
-6.  Load `~/common-lisp/ql-https/ql-setup.lisp`
-7.  Eval `(asdf:load-system "ql-https")`
-8.  Inspect `ql-http:*fetch-scheme-functions*` and verify everything was registered properly. Both `http` and
-    `https` have `ql-https:fetcher` registered.
-9.  Connect internet.
-10. Eval `(quicklisp:setup)` - use the USE-HTTPS restart if you hit the network.
+1. `mkdir ~/quicklisp` and `cd ~/quicklisp`
+2. Go to <https://beta.quicklisp.org/client/quicklisp.sexp> and lookup `:client-tar` URL, download it, verify
+   hash and untar.
+3. Clone ql-https from <https://github.com/rudolfochrist/ql-https.git> to
+   to `~/common-lisp/ql-https`
+4. Start a fresh REPL and (require 'asdf)
+5. Load `~/common-lisp/ql-https/ql-setup.lisp`
+6. Eval `(uiop:symbol-call :ql-setup :setup)`
 
 Removing the *Missing client-info.sexp, using mock info* warning.
 
@@ -62,8 +57,8 @@ Watch ASCIInema:
 (let ((quicklisp-init #p"~/common-lisp/ql-https/ql-setup.lisp"))
   (when (probe-file quicklisp-init)
     (load quicklisp-init)
-    (asdf:load-system "ql-https")
-    (uiop:symbol-call :quicklisp :setup)))
+	;; Alternatively: (uiop:symbol-call :ql-setup :setup "/path/to/quicklisp/")
+    (uiop:symbol-call :ql-setup :setup)))
 
 ;; optional
 #+ql-https
diff --git a/ql-setup.lisp b/ql-setup.lisp
index 66d44de..80da194 100644
--- a/ql-setup.lisp
+++ b/ql-setup.lisp
@@ -36,14 +36,8 @@
   (error "This file must be LOADed to set up quicklisp."))
 
 (defvar *quicklisp-home*
-  (make-pathname :name nil :type nil
-                 :defaults (let ((qlhome "~/quicklisp/"))
-                             (if (probe-file qlhome)
-                                 qlhome
-                                 (error "Quicklisp not installed to
-                                 default location. Please set
-                                 *quicklisp-home* manually and
-                                 retry")))))
+  (merge-pathnames "quicklisp/"
+                   (user-homedir-pathname)))
 
 (defun qmerge (pathname)
   "Return PATHNAME merged with the base Quicklisp directory."
@@ -141,8 +135,6 @@ compiling asdf.lisp to a FASL and then loading it."
             (try (load (compile-file source :verbose nil :output-file fasl))))
           (error "Could not load ASDF ~S or newer" *required-asdf-version*))))))
 
-(ensure-asdf-loaded)
-
 ;;;
 ;;; Quicklisp sometimes must upgrade ASDF. Ugrading ASDF will blow
 ;;; away existing ASDF methods, so e.g. FASL recompilation :around
@@ -151,15 +143,29 @@ compiling asdf.lisp to a FASL and then loading it."
 ;;; ASDF. Thanks to Nikodemus Siivola for pointing out this issue.
 ;;;
 
-(let ((asdf-init (probe-file (qmerge "asdf-config/init.lisp"))))
-  (when asdf-init
-    (with-simple-restart (skip "Skip loading ~S" asdf-init)
-      (load asdf-init :verbose nil :print nil))))
+(defun setup (&optional quicklisp-home)
+  "Perform necessary set-up for the Quicklisp installation.
+
+If QUICKLISP-HOME is given, binds `*quicklisp-home*' to it."
+  (declare (type (or Null Pathname) quicklisp-home))
+
+  (when quicklisp-home
+    (setf *quicklisp-home* quicklisp-home))
+
+  (ensure-asdf-loaded)
+
+  (let ((asdf-init (probe-file (qmerge "asdf-config/init.lisp"))))
+    (when asdf-init
+      (with-simple-restart (skip "Skip loading ~S" asdf-init)
+        (load asdf-init :verbose nil :print nil))))
+
+  (push (qmerge "quicklisp/") asdf:*central-registry*)
 
-(push (qmerge "quicklisp/") asdf:*central-registry*)
+  (let ((*compile-print* nil)
+        (*compile-verbose* nil)
+        (*load-verbose* nil)
+        (*load-print* nil))
+    (asdf:oos 'asdf:load-op "quicklisp" :verbose nil))
 
-(let ((*compile-print* nil)
-      (*compile-verbose* nil)
-      (*load-verbose* nil)
-      (*load-print* nil))
-  (asdf:oos 'asdf:load-op "quicklisp" :verbose nil))
+  (asdf:load-system "ql-https")
+  (uiop:symbol-call :quicklisp :setup))