diff --git a/packages/commandkit/hooks.d.ts b/packages/commandkit/hooks.d.ts
index 5619460f..d2eb0732 100644
--- a/packages/commandkit/hooks.d.ts
+++ b/packages/commandkit/hooks.d.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import type {
   CommandKitEnvironment,
   EventWorkerContext,
 } from './dist/index.js';
-import type { Client } from 'discord.js';
+import type { Client, Collection } from 'discord.js';
 
 export function useAnyEnvironment(): CommandKitEnvironment | EventWorkerContext;
 
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@ export function useCommandKit(): CommandKit;
 export function useCommand(): LoadedCommand;
 
 export function useEvent(): ParsedEvent;
+
+export function useStore<K = any, V = any>(): Collection<K, V>;
diff --git a/packages/commandkit/src/commandkit.ts b/packages/commandkit/src/commandkit.ts
index a4a699ff..c808816f 100644
--- a/packages/commandkit/src/commandkit.ts
+++ b/packages/commandkit/src/commandkit.ts
@@ -370,7 +370,13 @@ export class CommandKit extends EventEmitter {
 
   async #init() {
     const appDir = this.getAppDirectory();
-    if (!appDir) return;
+    if (!appDir) {
+      throw new Error(
+        'CommandKit could not determine the application directory. ' +
+          'This issue is common when you are not using the `commandkit dev` command to start the project. ' +
+          'You can either use `commandkit dev` to start the project, or set the `COMMANDKIT_IS_CLI=true` environment variable (Note that adding this to `.env` file may not work).',
+      );
+    }
 
     const commandsPath = this.getPath('commands')!;
     const events = this.getPath('events')!;