https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2007/01/msg03725.html

> modified /etc/default/spamassassin thus:
> 
> OPTIONS="--create-prefs --max-children 5 --helper-home-dir -D
> -x --virtual-config-dir=/srv/Mail/spamassassin"
> 
> -x turns off the per-user configs, so its stops trying to create
>  /nonexistent...
> 
> --virtual-config-dir=... does just that, point spamd to the specified
>   directory for its AWL files and bayes_* files. 
> 
> seems to work for me, though that -D sure puts up lots of nice
>  output
> :)
>