diff --git a/tools/goctl/util/file.go b/tools/goctl/util/file.go
index 3f7bf9a8..4032f339 100644
--- a/tools/goctl/util/file.go
+++ b/tools/goctl/util/file.go
@@ -95,12 +95,30 @@ func GetGitHome() (string, error) {
 
 // GetTemplateDir returns the category path value in GoctlHome where could get it by GetGoctlHome
 func GetTemplateDir(category string) (string, error) {
-	goctlHome, err := GetGoctlHome()
+	home, err := GetGoctlHome()
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
+	if home == goctlHome {
+		// backward compatible, it will be removed in the feature
+		// backward compatible start
+		beforeTemplateDir := filepath.Join(home, version.GetGoctlVersion(), category)
+		fs, _ := ioutil.ReadDir(beforeTemplateDir)
+		var hasContent bool
+		for _, e := range fs {
+			if e.Size() > 0 {
+				hasContent = true
+			}
+		}
+		if hasContent {
+			return beforeTemplateDir, nil
+		}
+		// backward compatible end
+
+		return filepath.Join(home, category), nil
+	}
 
-	return filepath.Join(goctlHome, version.GetGoctlVersion(), category), nil
+	return filepath.Join(home, version.GetGoctlVersion(), category), nil
 }
 
 // InitTemplates creates template files GoctlHome where could get it by GetGoctlHome
diff --git a/tools/goctl/util/file_test.go b/tools/goctl/util/file_test.go
index b0927f07..77aa5a59 100644
--- a/tools/goctl/util/file_test.go
+++ b/tools/goctl/util/file_test.go
@@ -1,13 +1,66 @@
 package util
 
 import (
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/tal-tech/go-zero/tools/goctl/internal/version"
 )
 
+func TestGetTemplateDir(t *testing.T) {
+	category := "foo"
+	t.Run("before_have_templates", func(t *testing.T) {
+		home := t.TempDir()
+		RegisterGoctlHome("")
+		RegisterGoctlHome(home)
+		v := version.GetGoctlVersion()
+		dir := filepath.Join(home, v, category)
+		err := MkdirIfNotExist(dir)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		tempFile := filepath.Join(dir, "bar.txt")
+		err = ioutil.WriteFile(tempFile, []byte("foo"), os.ModePerm)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		templateDir, err := GetTemplateDir(category)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		assert.Equal(t, dir, templateDir)
+		RegisterGoctlHome("")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("before_has_no_template", func(t *testing.T) {
+		home := t.TempDir()
+		RegisterGoctlHome("")
+		RegisterGoctlHome(home)
+		dir := filepath.Join(home, category)
+		err := MkdirIfNotExist(dir)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		templateDir, err := GetTemplateDir(category)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		assert.Equal(t, dir, templateDir)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("default", func(t *testing.T) {
+		RegisterGoctlHome("")
+		dir, err := GetTemplateDir(category)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		assert.Contains(t, dir, version.BuildVersion)
+	})
+}
+
 func TestGetGitHome(t *testing.T) {
 	homeDir, err := os.UserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {