diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3262dbb..55b89eb 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ raven_dep = dependency('raven')
 
 executable(
   'filemanager',
+  './src/Dirs.cpp',
   './src/FileButton.cpp',
   './src/DirectoryView.cpp',
   './src/TopBar.cpp',
diff --git a/src/Dirs.cpp b/src/Dirs.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10bceda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Dirs.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#include "Dirs.hpp"
+
+#include <cstdlib>
+
+std::filesystem::path get_home_directory() {
+    auto home_env = std::getenv("HOME");
+    if (!home_env || !std::filesystem::exists(home_env)) {
+        return "/";
+    }
+    return home_env;
+}
diff --git a/src/Dirs.hpp b/src/Dirs.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..280c847
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Dirs.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <filesystem>
+
+std::filesystem::path get_home_directory();