diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 7b998abbf..b0110d7ab 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -219,14 +219,17 @@ func (c *Config) Propagate() {
 func (c *Config) Init() error {
 	start := time.Now()
 
+	// Create configured directory paths.
 	if err := c.CreateDirectories(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := c.initSerial(); err != nil {
+	// Init storage directories with a random serial.
+	if err := c.InitSerial(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	// Detect case-insensitive file system.
 	if insensitive, err := c.CaseInsensitive(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	} else if insensitive {
@@ -234,6 +237,7 @@ func (c *Config) Init() error {
 		fs.IgnoreCase()
 	}
 
+	// Detect CPU.
 	if cpuName := cpuid.CPU.BrandName; cpuName != "" {
 		log.Debugf("config: running on %s, %s memory detected", clean.Log(cpuid.CPU.BrandName), humanize.Bytes(TotalMem))
 	}
@@ -275,8 +279,10 @@ func (c *Config) Init() error {
 	c.initSettings()
 	c.initHub()
 
+	// Propagate configuration.
 	c.Propagate()
 
+	// Connect to database.
 	if err := c.connectDb(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	} else if !c.Sponsor() {
@@ -284,6 +290,7 @@ func (c *Config) Init() error {
 		log.Info(MsgSignUp)
 	}
 
+	// Show log message.
 	log.Debugf("config: successfully initialized [%s]", time.Since(start))
 
 	return nil
@@ -313,8 +320,8 @@ func (c *Config) readSerial() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-// initSerial initializes storage directories with a random serial.
-func (c *Config) initSerial() (err error) {
+// InitSerial initializes storage directories with a random serial.
+func (c *Config) InitSerial() (err error) {
 	if c.Serial() != "" {
 		return nil
 	}
diff --git a/internal/config/config_filepaths.go b/internal/config/config_filepaths.go
index 2e455ac47..881bfc42d 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_filepaths.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_filepaths.go
@@ -60,22 +60,6 @@ func findBin(configBin, defaultBin string) (binPath string) {
 
 // CreateDirectories creates directories for storing photos, metadata and cache files.
 func (c *Config) CreateDirectories() error {
-	createError := func(path string, err error) (result error) {
-		if fs.FileExists(path) {
-			result = fmt.Errorf("directory path %s is a file, please check your configuration", clean.Log(path))
-		} else {
-			result = fmt.Errorf("failed to create the directory %s, check configuration and permissions", clean.Log(path))
-		}
-
-		log.Debug(err)
-
-		return result
-	}
-
-	notFoundError := func(name string) error {
-		return fmt.Errorf("invalid %s path, check configuration and permissions", clean.Log(name))
-	}
-
 	if c.AssetsPath() == "" {
 		return notFoundError("assets")
 	} else if err := os.MkdirAll(c.AssetsPath(), fs.ModeDir); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/config/error.go b/internal/config/error.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3b52c1941
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/error.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/pkg/clean"
+	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/pkg/fs"
+)
+
+// createError returns a new directory create error.
+func createError(path string, err error) (result error) {
+	if fs.FileExists(path) {
+		result = fmt.Errorf("directory path %s is a file, please check your configuration", clean.Log(path))
+	} else {
+		result = fmt.Errorf("failed to create the directory %s, check configuration and permissions", clean.Log(path))
+	}
+
+	log.Debug(err)
+
+	return result
+}
+
+// notFoundError returns a new directory not found error.
+func notFoundError(name string) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("invalid %s path, check configuration and permissions", clean.Log(name))
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/settings.go b/internal/config/settings.go
index bd211c9ca..8ae78e141 100644
--- a/internal/config/settings.go
+++ b/internal/config/settings.go
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"os"
+
 	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/internal/acl"
 	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/internal/customize"
 	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/internal/entity"
 	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/internal/i18n"
+
+	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/pkg/fs"
 )
 
 // initSettings initializes user settings from a config file.
@@ -17,13 +21,19 @@ func (c *Config) initSettings() {
 	c.settings = customize.NewSettings(c.DefaultTheme(), c.DefaultLocale())
 
 	// Get filenames to load the settings from.
+	configPath := c.ConfigPath()
 	settingsFile := c.SettingsYaml()
 	defaultsFile := c.SettingsYamlDefaults(settingsFile)
 
+	// Make sure that the config path exists.
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(configPath, fs.ModeDir); err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("settings: %s", createError(configPath, err))
+	}
+
 	// Load values from an existing YAML file or create it otherwise.
 	if err := c.settings.Load(defaultsFile); err == nil {
 		log.Debugf("settings: loaded from %s", defaultsFile)
-	} else if err := c.settings.Save(settingsFile); err != nil {
+	} else if err = c.settings.Save(settingsFile); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("settings: could not create %s (%s)", settingsFile, err)
 	} else {
 		log.Debugf("settings: saved to %s ", settingsFile)
diff --git a/internal/hub/config.go b/internal/hub/config.go
index 75a59150c..804d1ed85 100644
--- a/internal/hub/config.go
+++ b/internal/hub/config.go
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ func (c *Config) ReSync(token string) (err error) {
 // Load backend api credentials from a YAML file.
 func (c *Config) Load() error {
 	if !fs.FileExists(c.FileName) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("settings file not found: %s", clean.Log(c.FileName))
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s not found", clean.Log(c.FileName))
 	}
 
 	mutex.Lock()