diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/migrate.rs b/espanso/src/cli/migrate.rs
index 22ddb8f..a5a5cc6 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/migrate.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/migrate.rs
@@ -177,9 +177,8 @@ fn find_available_backup_dir() -> PathBuf {
       "".to_string()
     };
 
-    let target_backup_dir = dirs::document_dir()
-      .expect("unable to generate backup directory")
-      .join(format!("espanso-migrate-backup{}", num));
+    let target_backup_dir =
+      find_backup_dir_location().join(format!("espanso-migrate-backup{}", num));
 
     if !target_backup_dir.is_dir() {
       return target_backup_dir;
@@ -189,6 +188,22 @@ fn find_available_backup_dir() -> PathBuf {
   panic!("could not generate valid backup directory");
 }
 
+fn find_backup_dir_location() -> PathBuf {
+  if let Some(documents_dir) = dirs::document_dir() {
+    return documents_dir;
+  }
+
+  if let Some(home_dir) = dirs::home_dir() {
+    return home_dir;
+  }
+
+  if let Ok(current_dir) = std::env::current_dir() {
+    return current_dir;
+  }
+
+  panic!("unable to generate suitable backup location directory");
+}
+
 fn error_print_and_log(msg: &str) {
   error!("{}", msg);
   eprintln!("{}", msg);