diff --git a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
index 2af02e2d5..38a51f434 100755
--- a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@ if (parsedArgs.settings) {
         // Consider compatibility for older versions
         settingsFile = path.join(process.env.HOMEPATH,".node-red","settings.js");
     } else {
+        if (!parsedArgs.userDir && !(process.env.HOME || process.env.USERPROFILE || process.env.HOMEPATH)) {
+            console.log("Could not find user directory. Ensure $HOME is set for the current user, or use --userDir option")
+            process.exit(1)
+        }
         var userDir = parsedArgs.userDir || path.join(process.env.HOME || process.env.USERPROFILE || process.env.HOMEPATH,".node-red");
         var userSettingsFile = path.join(userDir,"settings.js");
         if (fs.existsSync(userSettingsFile)) {