diff --git a/source/script.php b/source/script.php
index 3a4a6dbe..5b9d10f7 100644
--- a/source/script.php
+++ b/source/script.php
@@ -45,6 +45,20 @@ class Pkg_MokosuiteclientInstallerScript
 	public function preflight($type, $parent)
 	{
 		$this->saveDownloadKey();
+
+		// Remove DEFAULT '' from element column — a previous version set this
+		// which caused Joomla to install plugin files to the group root
+		try
+		{
+			$db = Factory::getDbo();
+			$db->setQuery("ALTER TABLE " . $db->quoteName('#__extensions')
+				. " MODIFY " . $db->quoteName('element') . " VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL");
+			$db->execute();
+		}
+		catch (\Throwable $e)
+		{
+			// Non-fatal — column may already be correct
+		}
 	}
 
 	public function postflight($type, $parent)