diff --git a/simapp/simd/cmd/root.go b/simapp/simd/cmd/root.go
index dd33ea0823f7..534e22b0fb0d 100644
--- a/simapp/simd/cmd/root.go
+++ b/simapp/simd/cmd/root.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -204,14 +205,20 @@ func createSimappAndExport(
 	encCfg := simapp.MakeTestEncodingConfig() // Ideally, we would reuse the one created by NewRootCmd.
 	encCfg.Marshaler = codec.NewProtoCodec(encCfg.InterfaceRegistry)
 	var simApp *simapp.SimApp
+
+	homePath, ok := appOpts.Get(flags.FlagHome).(string)
+	if !ok || homePath == "" {
+		return servertypes.ExportedApp{}, errors.New("application home not set")
+	}
+
 	if height != -1 {
-		simApp = simapp.NewSimApp(logger, db, traceStore, false, map[int64]bool{}, "", uint(1), encCfg, appOpts)
+		simApp = simapp.NewSimApp(logger, db, traceStore, false, map[int64]bool{}, homePath, uint(1), encCfg, appOpts)
 
 		if err := simApp.LoadHeight(height); err != nil {
 			return servertypes.ExportedApp{}, err
 		}
 	} else {
-		simApp = simapp.NewSimApp(logger, db, traceStore, true, map[int64]bool{}, "", uint(1), encCfg, appOpts)
+		simApp = simapp.NewSimApp(logger, db, traceStore, true, map[int64]bool{}, homePath, uint(1), encCfg, appOpts)
 	}
 
 	return simApp.ExportAppStateAndValidators(forZeroHeight, jailAllowedAddrs)