diff --git a/source/fileop.cpp b/source/fileop.cpp
index 39c0323..3222dde 100644
--- a/source/fileop.cpp
+++ b/source/fileop.cpp
@@ -699,6 +699,20 @@ ParseDirectory(bool waitParse, bool filter)
 	return browser.numEntries;
 }
 
+bool CreateDirectory(char * path)
+{
+	DIR *dir = opendir(path);
+	if (!dir) {
+		if(mkdir(path, 0777) != 0) {
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+	else {
+		closedir(dir);
+	}
+	return true;
+}
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * AllocSaveBuffer ()
  * Clear and allocate the savebuffer
diff --git a/source/fileop.h b/source/fileop.h
index ddd681f..2ef6174 100644
--- a/source/fileop.h
+++ b/source/fileop.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ void CreateAppPath(char * origpath);
 bool GetFileSize(int i);
 void FindAndSelectLastLoadedFile();
 int ParseDirectory(bool waitParse = false, bool filter = true);
+bool CreateDirectory(char * path);
 void AllocSaveBuffer();
 void FreeSaveBuffer();
 size_t LoadFile(char * rbuffer, char *filepath, size_t length, bool silent);
diff --git a/source/preferences.cpp b/source/preferences.cpp
index 2d843b1..e9a62d1 100644
--- a/source/preferences.cpp
+++ b/source/preferences.cpp
@@ -580,8 +580,6 @@ bool LoadPrefs()
 	sprintf(filepath[1], "cardb:/%s", APPFOLDER);
 #endif
 
-	printf("in load prefs\n");
-
 	for(int i=0; i<numDevices; i++)
 	{
 		prefFound = LoadPrefsFromMethod(filepath[i]);
@@ -595,6 +593,13 @@ bool LoadPrefs()
 	if(prefFound)
 		FixInvalidSettings();
 
+	// attempt to create screenshots directory if it doesn't exist
+	if(GCSettings.LoadMethod != DEVICE_AUTO) {
+		char dirPath[MAXPATHLEN];
+		sprintf(dirPath, "%s%s", pathPrefix[GCSettings.LoadMethod], GCSettings.ScreenshotsFolder);
+		CreateDirectory(dirPath);
+	}
+
 	ResetText();
 	return prefFound;
 }