diff --git a/mealie/core/config.py b/mealie/core/config.py
index 7dae9b23..71769098 100644
--- a/mealie/core/config.py
+++ b/mealie/core/config.py
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ DATA_DIR = os.getenv("DATA_DIR")
 
 
 def determine_data_dir() -> Path:
-    global PRODUCTION, TESTING, BASE_DIR, DATA_DIR
+    global TESTING
 
     if TESTING:
         return BASE_DIR.joinpath(DATA_DIR if DATA_DIR else "tests/.temp")
 
-    if PRODUCTION:
-        return Path(DATA_DIR if DATA_DIR else "/app/data")
-
-    return BASE_DIR.joinpath("dev", "data")
+    state_dir = os.getenv("STATE_DIRECTORY")
+    if not state_dir:
+        raise Exception("State directory not set")
+    return Path(state_dir)
 
 
 @lru_cache