diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/uresbund.c b/icu4c/source/common/uresbund.c
index e00f93ef43..5fea990c5e 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/uresbund.c
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/uresbund.c
@@ -277,9 +277,7 @@ static UResourceDataEntry *init_entry(const char *localeID, const char *path, UE
     }
 
     if(path != NULL) { /* if we actually have path, we'll use it */
-        if(uprv_strcmp(path, u_getDataDirectory()) != 0) { /* unless it is system default path */
-            myPath = path;
-        }
+      myPath = path;
     }
 
     find.fName = name;
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/uscript.c b/icu4c/source/common/uscript.c
index c7f2957f87..61ea2cd223 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/uscript.c
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/uscript.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ uscript_getCode(const char* nameOrAbbrOrLocale,
     if(code==(UScriptCode)UCHAR_INVALID_CODE){
         /* Do not propagate error codes from just not finding a locale bundle. */
         UErrorCode localErrorCode = U_ZERO_ERROR;
-        UResourceBundle* resB = ures_open(u_getDataDirectory(),nameOrAbbrOrLocale,&localErrorCode);
+        UResourceBundle* resB = ures_open(NULL,nameOrAbbrOrLocale,&localErrorCode);
         if(U_SUCCESS(localErrorCode)&& localErrorCode != U_USING_DEFAULT_WARNING){
             UResourceBundle* resD = ures_getByKey(resB,kLocaleScript,NULL,&localErrorCode);
             if(U_SUCCESS(localErrorCode) ){