1diff --git a/qt/aqt/profiles.py b/qt/aqt/profiles.py
2index 469908c1b2..34612d6e08 100644
3--- a/qt/aqt/profiles.py
4+++ b/qt/aqt/profiles.py
5@@ -310,7 +310,9 @@ def profileFolder(self, create: bool = True) -> str:
6 return path
7
8 def addonFolder(self) -> str:
9- return self._ensureExists(os.path.join(self.base, "addons21"))
10+ path = Path(os.environ.get("ANKI_ADDONS") or Path(self.base) / "addons21")
11+ path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
12+ return str(path.resolve())
13
14 def backupFolder(self) -> str:
15 return self._ensureExists(os.path.join(self.profileFolder(), "backups"))