diff --git a/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/CONFIG_APP b/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/CONFIG_APP
index 97707443d..38466b2d6 100644
--- a/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/CONFIG_APP
+++ b/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/CONFIG_APP
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ifdef INSTALL_LOCATION_APP
 INSTALL_LOCATION = $(INSTALL_LOCATION_APP)
 endif
 
-USER_DBDFLAGS = -I. -I..
+USER_DBDFLAGS += -I. -I.. -I$(EPICS_BASE)/dbd
 
 ifdef T_A
 -include $(TOP)/config/O.$(T_A)/CONFIG_APP_INCLUDE