diff --git a/data/helpers.d/utils b/data/helpers.d/utils
index 085404f1b..396374174 100644
--- a/data/helpers.d/utils
+++ b/data/helpers.d/utils
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+if [ -z "$YNH_APP_BASEDIR" ];
+then
+    ynh_print_warn --message="YNH_APP_BASEDIR is not defined, many helpers use it, please define it!"
+    YNH_APP_BASEDIR=$(realpath ..)
+fi
+
 # Handle script crashes / failures
 #
 # [internal]