diff --git a/src/emqx_app.erl b/src/emqx_app.erl
index 9648600c5..53d8f97fd 100644
--- a/src/emqx_app.erl
+++ b/src/emqx_app.erl
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 start(_Type, _Args) ->
-
+    create_mnesia_dir("data/mnesia"),
     emqx_gen_config:generate_config("etc/emqx.conf", "etc/plugins", "data/configs", "releases/3.1/schema"),
     %% We'd like to configure the primary logger level here, rather than set the
     %%   kernel config `logger_level` before starting the erlang vm.
@@ -77,3 +77,7 @@ start_autocluster() ->
     ekka:callback(reboot,  fun emqx:reboot/0),
     ekka:autocluster(?APP).
 
+create_mnesia_dir(Dir) ->
+    MnesiaDir = filename:join(Dir, node()),
+    filelib:ensure_dir(MnesiaDir),
+    application:set_env(mnesia, dir, MnesiaDir).