diff --git a/ejabberdctl.template b/ejabberdctl.template
index 0f0ec29e3..196c8eee1 100755
--- a/ejabberdctl.template
+++ b/ejabberdctl.template
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ FIREWALL_WINDOW=""
 ERLANG_NODE=ejabberd@localhost
 
 # define default environment variables
+SCRIPT_DIR=`cd ${0%/*} && pwd`
 ERL={{erl}}
 IEX={{bindir}}/iex
 EPMD={{bindir}}/epmd