diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/asgi.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/asgi.py
index 562ecf402..8c99bbf53 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/asgi.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/asgi.py
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ from django.core.asgi import get_asgi_application
 
 # This allows easy placement of apps within the interior
 # {{ cookiecutter.project_slug }} directory.
-app_path = Path(__file__).parents[1].resolve()
-sys.path.append(str(app_path / "{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}"))
+ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve(strict=True).parent.parent
+sys.path.append(str(ROOT_DIR / "{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}"))
 
 # If DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE is unset, default to the local settings
 os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.local")
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
index 390f2252c..7f339fadc 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import environ
 
-ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).parents[2]
-# {{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}/)
+ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve(strict=True).parent.parent.parent
+# {{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}/
 APPS_DIR = ROOT_DIR / "{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}"
 env = environ.Env()
 
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/wsgi.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/wsgi.py
index fccfea354..a7de581ca 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/wsgi.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/wsgi.py
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ from django.core.wsgi import get_wsgi_application
 
 # This allows easy placement of apps within the interior
 # {{ cookiecutter.project_slug }} directory.
-app_path = Path(__file__).parents[1].resolve()
-sys.path.append(str(app_path / "{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}"))
+ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve(strict=True).parent.parent
+sys.path.append(str(ROOT_DIR / "{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}"))
 # We defer to a DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE already in the environment. This breaks
 # if running multiple sites in the same mod_wsgi process. To fix this, use
 # mod_wsgi daemon mode with each site in its own daemon process, or use