diff --git a/snap/hooks/configure b/snap/hooks/configure
index cb493943..1fae537d 100644
--- a/snap/hooks/configure
+++ b/snap/hooks/configure
@@ -45,4 +45,6 @@ then
     touch ${SNAP_COMMON}/initial-migrations-run
 fi
 
+mdkir "${SNAP_DATA}/media"
+
 exit 0
diff --git a/snap/local/set-environment b/snap/local/set-environment
index 8579f4d0..b34b4597 100755
--- a/snap/local/set-environment
+++ b/snap/local/set-environment
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ ROCKET_ADDRESS="$(snapctl get listen.address)"
 ROCKET_PORT="$(snapctl get listen.port)"
 export ROCKET_SECRET_KEY="$(cat ${SNAP_COMMON}/rocket-secret-key)"
 export SEARCH_INDEX="${SNAP_DATA}/search_index"
+export MEDIA_UPLOAD_DIRECTORY="${SNAP_DATA}/media"
 
 cd ${SNAP}
 exec $@