diff --git a/source/fileop.cpp b/source/fileop.cpp
index 5e3f776..da04a88 100644
--- a/source/fileop.cpp
+++ b/source/fileop.cpp
@@ -698,6 +698,20 @@ 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 716f204..9ff49d3 100644
--- a/source/fileop.h
+++ b/source/fileop.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ 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 d6eb018..714a0a5 100644
--- a/source/preferences.cpp
+++ b/source/preferences.cpp
@@ -633,7 +633,6 @@ DefaultSettings ()
 	GCSettings.SaveMethod = DEVICE_AUTO; // Auto, SD, USB, Network (SMB)
 	sprintf (GCSettings.LoadFolder, "%s/roms", APPFOLDER); // Path to game files
 	sprintf (GCSettings.SaveFolder, "%s/saves", APPFOLDER); // Path to save files
-	//sprintf (GCSettings.CheatFolder, "%s/cheats", APPFOLDER); // Path to cheat files
 	sprintf (GCSettings.ScreenshotsFolder, "%s/screenshots", APPFOLDER);
 	sprintf (GCSettings.BorderFolder, "%s/borders", APPFOLDER);
 	sprintf (GCSettings.CoverFolder, "%s/covers", APPFOLDER); // Path to cover files
@@ -839,6 +838,17 @@ bool LoadPrefs()
 	if(prefFound)
 		FixInvalidSettings();
 
+	// attempt to create directories if they don't exist
+	if(GCSettings.LoadMethod != DEVICE_AUTO) {
+		char dirPath[MAXPATHLEN];
+		sprintf(dirPath, "%s%s", pathPrefix[GCSettings.LoadMethod], GCSettings.ScreenshotsFolder);
+		CreateDirectory(dirPath);
+		sprintf(dirPath, "%s%s", pathPrefix[GCSettings.LoadMethod], GCSettings.CoverFolder);
+		CreateDirectory(dirPath);
+		sprintf(dirPath, "%s%s", pathPrefix[GCSettings.LoadMethod], GCSettings.ArtworkFolder);
+		CreateDirectory(dirPath);
+	}
+
 	ResetText();
 	return prefFound;
 }