try to fix the case the *_ROOT dir is not in sys.path

base.py

@@ -302,7 +302,10 @@ class ServiceManager:
         if not ins:
             raise UsageError('need instance')
         env = self.env[ins]
-        return env.get('%s_ROOT' % gr, ''), env
+        startdir = env.get('%s_ROOT' % gr, '')
+        if startdir not in sys.path:
+            sys.path.insert(0, startdir)
+        return startdir, env
 
     def do_start(self, ins, service=None, cfg='', restart=False, wait=False, logger=None, opts=''):
         if not ins:
@@ -367,8 +370,6 @@ class ServiceManager:
                 start_dir, env = self.prepare_start(ins, service_i, cfg)
                 env = dict(os.environ, **env, Instrument=ins)
                 os.chdir(start_dir)
-                if start_dir not in sys.path:
-                    sys.path.insert(0, start_dir)
                 nicosenv = '/home/nicos/nicos/nicosenv/bin/'
                 if exists(nicosenv):
                     env['PATH'] = f"{nicosenv}:{env['PATH']}"