diff --git a/scripts/gitea-microvm-guest-runner b/scripts/gitea-microvm-guest-runner
index 3b4d076..041e33f 100755
--- a/scripts/gitea-microvm-guest-runner
+++ b/scripts/gitea-microvm-guest-runner
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ runner_name=${3:?runner name is required}
 runner_labels=${4:?runner labels are required}
 token_file=/run/gitea-runner-registration-token
 config_file=${GITEA_RUNNER_CONFIG_FILE:-/etc/gitea-runner/config-vm-bootstrap.yaml}
+export HOME=${HOME:-/root}
 
 cleanup() {
     rm -f -- "$token_file"