diff --git a/lib/config.nu b/lib/config.nu
index a571608..053d342 100644
--- a/lib/config.nu
+++ b/lib/config.nu
@@ -5,7 +5,12 @@ export def read_file [app: string, filename = "config.toml"] {
 
 # returns the path to an apps config dir
 export def get_path [app: string] {
-  let local = ( $env.HOME | path join ".config" | path join $app )
+  let home = $env.HOME?
+
+  if $home == null {
+    "/etc" | path join $app
+  }
+  let local = ( $home | path join ".config" | path join $app )
 
   if ( $local | path exists ) {
     $local