diff --git a/lib/ffi-compiler/loader.rb b/lib/ffi-compiler/loader.rb
index 08c5fe8..984c3c5 100644
--- a/lib/ffi-compiler/loader.rb
+++ b/lib/ffi-compiler/loader.rb
@@ -5,24 +5,39 @@
 module FFI
   module Compiler
     module Loader
+      # Finds the native extension for the given library name.
+      # Tries RubyGems extension_dir using the library name as the gem name (best effort),
+      # then always falls back to the legacy recursive search for compatibility.
       def self.find(name, start_path = nil)
         library = Platform.system.map_library_name(name)
+
+        # Try RubyGems extension_dir using name as gem name (best effort)
+        if defined?(Gem::Specification)
+          begin
+            spec = Gem::Specification.find_by_name(name)
+            if spec && spec.respond_to?(:extension_dir)
+              ext_dir = spec.extension_dir
+              ext_path = File.join(ext_dir, library)
+              return ext_path if File.exist?(ext_path)
+            end
+          rescue Gem::MissingSpecError
+            # Ignore and fall back to legacy search
+          end
+        end
+
+        # Legacy search
         root = false
         Pathname.new(start_path || caller_path(caller[0])).ascend do |path|
           Dir.glob("#{path}/**/#{FFI::Platform::ARCH}-#{FFI::Platform::OS}/#{library}") do |f|
             return f
           end
-
           Dir.glob("#{path}/**/#{library}") do |f|
             return f
           end
-
           break if root
-
-          # Next iteration will be the root of the gem if this is the lib/ dir - stop after that
           root = File.basename(path) == 'lib'
         end
-        raise LoadError.new("cannot find '#{name}' library")
+        raise LoadError, "cannot find '#{name}' library"
       end
 
       def self.caller_path(line = caller[0])