diff --git a/base/app/app.py b/base/app/app.py
index a3fa384..4bf09ad 100644
--- a/base/app/app.py
+++ b/base/app/app.py
@@ -13,18 +13,20 @@
 import petname
 from flask import Flask, jsonify
 
+state_base = "/var/lib/private/orijen-udf-base/"
+
 def run_flask(app):
     """Function to run the Flask app on a separate thread."""
     app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=5123)
 
 def save_state(file, state):
-    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(file), exist_ok=True)
-    with open(file, 'w') as f:
+    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(state_base + file), exist_ok=True)
+    with open(state_base+ file, 'w') as f:
         json.dump(state, f)
 
 def load_state(file):
     try:
-        with open(file, 'r') as f:
+        with open(state_base + file, 'r') as f:
             return json.load(f)
     except FileNotFoundError:
         return {}
@@ -226,14 +228,12 @@ def send_sqs(meta: dict, kill: bool=False) -> dict|None:
 def main():
     """
     Main Function
-    """
-    state_base = "/var/lib/private/orijen-udf-base/"
-   
+    """   
     metadata = query_metadata()
     labInfo = get_lab_info(metadata)
     sqsMeta = build_sqs_meta(metadata, labInfo)
 
-    petName = load_state(state_base + "petname.json")
+    petName = load_state("petname.json")
     if not petName:
         petName = generate_petname()