diff --git a/.github/workflows/backend.yml b/.github/workflows/backend.yml
index baf6c0a..32e2048 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backend.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backend.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ jobs:
         python-version: [3.8, 3.9]
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    env:
+      HYPERGLASS_APP_PATH: $HOME/hyperglass
 
     steps:
       - name: Git Checkout
@@ -40,6 +42,9 @@ jobs:
         with:
           redis-version: ${{ matrix.redis-version }}
 
+      - name: Prepare
+        run: mkdir ${{ env.HYPERGLASS_APP_PATH }}
+
       - name: Install (Poetry)
         run: poetry install
 
diff --git a/hyperglass/models/system.py b/hyperglass/models/system.py
index 1cd326e..63c72b2 100644
--- a/hyperglass/models/system.py
+++ b/hyperglass/models/system.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class HyperglassSettings(BaseSettings):
 
     debug: bool = False
     dev_mode: bool = False
-    app_path: DirectoryPath
+    app_path: DirectoryPath = "/etc/hyperglass"
     redis_host: str = "localhost"
     redis_password: t.Optional[SecretStr]
     redis_db: int = 1