diff --git a/scripts/install b/scripts/install
index 1b05268..8e7aff2 100755
--- a/scripts/install
+++ b/scripts/install
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@ write_bridge_config
 mkdir -p /var/log/$app
 # Configure Mautrix-Bridge
 python3 -m venv $final_path
+if [ -z $HOME ]; then
+  HOME=$final_path # HACK see https://github.com/mautrix/telegram/issues/661
+fi
 $final_path/bin/pip3 install --upgrade setuptools wheel # HACK fixes "error: invalid command 'bdist_wheel'"
 $final_path/bin/pip3 install --upgrade $final_path/src/mautrix-telegram.tar.gz[postgres,speedups,qr_login] # metrics,hq_thumbnails,e2be
 # -r optional-requirements.txt
diff --git a/scripts/upgrade b/scripts/upgrade
index 864f9ae..5bf6d51 100644
--- a/scripts/upgrade
+++ b/scripts/upgrade
@@ -122,11 +122,13 @@ ynh_system_user_create --username=$mautrix_bridge_user
 # ...
 #=================================================
 
-if [ "$upgrade_type" == "UPGRADE_APP" ]
-then
-ynh_script_progression --message="Upgrading python packages..." --weight=1
-$final_path/bin/pip3 install --upgrade setuptools wheel # HACK fixes "error: invalid command 'bdist_wheel'"
-$final_path/bin/pip3 install --upgrade $final_path/src/mautrix-telegram.tar.gz[postgres,speedups,qr_login] #,hq_thumbnails
+if [ "$upgrade_type" == "UPGRADE_APP" ]; then
+  ynh_script_progression --message="Upgrading python packages..." --weight=1
+  if [ -z $HOME ]; then
+    HOME=$final_path # HACK see https://github.com/mautrix/telegram/issues/661
+  fi
+  $final_path/bin/pip3 install --upgrade setuptools wheel # HACK fixes "error: invalid command 'bdist_wheel'"
+  $final_path/bin/pip3 install --upgrade $final_path/src/mautrix-telegram.tar.gz[postgres,speedups,qr_login] #,hq_thumbnails
 fi
 
 #=================================================