protected function getTargetDir()
    {

        // load the actual status
        $status = $this->getRegistryProcessor()->getAttribute($this->getSerial());

        // query whether or not the configured source directory is available
        if (!is_dir($sourceDir = $status[RegistryKeys::SOURCE_DIRECTORY])) {
            throw new \Exception(sprintf('Configured source directory %s is not available!', $sourceDir));
        }

        // return the source directory where we want to export to
        return $sourceDir;
    }