diff --git a/installer/ipkg/filebot.sh b/installer/ipkg/filebot.sh
index 54e1e32b..57057e51 100644
--- a/installer/ipkg/filebot.sh
+++ b/installer/ipkg/filebot.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+
+# make sure required environment variables are set
+if [ -z "$USER" ]
+then
+    export USER=`whoami`
+fi
+
 APP_ROOT="/opt/share/filebot"
 APP_DATA="$APP_ROOT/data/$USER"