diff --git a/app-template/apply.js b/app-template/apply.js
index 106bfc998..9f5a5625a 100755
--- a/app-template/apply.js
+++ b/app-template/apply.js
@@ -82,8 +82,13 @@ fs.writeFileSync('../appConfig.json', configBlob, 'utf8');
 ////////////////
 var externalServices;
 try {
+  console.log('Looking for COPAY_EXTERNAL_SERVICES_CONFIG_LOCATION...');
   if(typeof process.env.COPAY_EXTERNAL_SERVICES_CONFIG_LOCATION !== 'undefined') {
     var location = process.env.COPAY_EXTERNAL_SERVICES_CONFIG_LOCATION;
+    if(location.charAt(0) === '~') {
+      location = location.replace(/^\~/, os.homedir());
+    }
+    console.log('Found at: ' + location);
     console.log('Copying ' + location + ' to root');
     externalServices = fs.readFileSync(location, 'utf8');
   }
diff --git a/app-template/package-template.json b/app-template/package-template.json
index 6fb7b14f4..5ff4ab91e 100644
--- a/app-template/package-template.json
+++ b/app-template/package-template.json
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@
     "run:android":            "cordova run android --device",
     "log:android":            "adb logcat | grep chromium",
     "sign:android":           "rm -f platforms/android/build/outputs/apk/android-release-signed-aligned.apk; jarsigner -verbose -sigalg SHA1withRSA -digestalg SHA1 -keystore ../copay.keystore -signedjar platforms/android/build/outputs/apk/android-release-signed.apk  platforms/android/build/outputs/apk/android-release-unsigned.apk copay_play && ../android-sdk-macosx/build-tools/21.1.1/zipalign -v 4 platforms/android/build/outputs/apk/android-release-signed.apk platforms/android/build/outputs/apk/android-release-signed-aligned.apk",
-    "apply:copay":            "cd app-template && node apply.js copay && cordova prepare",
-    "apply:bitpay":           "cd app-template && node apply.js bitpay && cordova prepare",
+    "apply:copay":            "npm i && cd app-template && node apply.js copay && cordova prepare",
+    "apply:bitpay":           "npm i && cd app-template && node apply.js bitpay && cordova prepare",
     "test":                   "./node_modules/.bin/grunt test-coveralls",
     "clean":                  "trash platforms && trash plugins && cordova prepare",
     "unstage-package":        "git reset package.json",