diff --git a/updateHostsFile.py b/updateHostsFile.py
index 9b190468c..d7ba9ef26 100644
--- a/updateHostsFile.py
+++ b/updateHostsFile.py
@@ -205,14 +205,14 @@ def main():
         "--whitelist",
         "-w",
         dest="whitelistfile",
-        default="",
+        default=path_join_robust(BASEDIR_PATH, "blacklist"),
         help="Whitelist file to use while generating hosts files.",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--blacklist",
         "-x",
         dest="blacklistfile",
-        default="",
+        default=path_join_robust(BASEDIR_PATH, "blacklist"),
         help="Blacklist file to use while generating hosts files.",
     )