diff --git a/.env-template b/.env-template
index dbe47267..f2927586 100644
--- a/.env-template
+++ b/.env-template
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# This is the porject root (where the .env file lives)
+ROOT="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
+
 # https or http, as you wish
 PUBLIC_APP_PROTOCOL=https
 
@@ -8,15 +11,15 @@ PUBLIC_APP_DOMAIN=pockethost.test
 PUBLIC_APP_DB=pockethost-central
 
 # The path to the root directory where all PocketHost data is stored for all users
-DAEMON_PB_DATA_DIR=`pwd`/.data
+DAEMON_PB_DATA_DIR=$ROOT/.data
 
 # The path to the migrations directory where the PocketHost mothership can find its migrations.
 # Typically, this is separate from the other instances since it's under source control.
-DAEMON_PB_MIGRATIONS_DIR=`pwd`/packages/daemon/migrations
+DAEMON_PB_MIGRATIONS_DIR=$ROOT/packages/daemon/migrations
 
 # The path to the hooks directory where the PocketHost mothership can find its hooks.
 # Typically, this is separate from the other instances since it's under source control.
-DAEMON_PB_HOOKS_DIR=`pwd`/packages/daemon/pb_hooks
+DAEMON_PB_HOOKS_DIR=$ROOT/packages/daemon/pb_hooks
 
 # The username and password of the admin account PocketHost will use to perform
 # privileged backend operations
@@ -39,11 +42,11 @@ DAEMON_PB_SEMVER=
 DAEMON_IPCIDR_LIST=173.245.48.0/20,103.21.244.0/22,103.22.200.0/22,103.31.4.0/22,141.101.64.0/18,108.162.192.0/18,190.93.240.0/20,188.114.96.0/20,197.234.240.0/22,198.41.128.0/17,162.158.0.0/15,104.16.0.0/13,104.24.0.0/14,172.64.0.0/13,131.0.72.0/22
 
 # SSL key used for HTTP proxy and FTP daemon
-SSL_KEY=`pwd`/ssl/pockethost.test.key
-SSL_CERT=`pwd`/ssl/pockethost.test.crt
+SSL_KEY=$ROOT/ssl/pockethost.test.key
+SSL_CERT=$ROOT/ssl/pockethost.test.crt
 
 # Path to where the PocketBase binaries are cached
-PH_BIN_CACHE=`pwd`/.pbincache
+PH_BIN_CACHE=$ROOT/.pbincache
 
 # FTP settings
 PH_FTP_PASV_IP=0.0.0.0