diff --git a/src/diskreader.cxx b/src/diskreader.cxx
index b50d36c..68f4de4 100644
--- a/src/diskreader.cxx
+++ b/src/diskreader.cxx
@@ -102,6 +102,17 @@ int DiskReader::loadPreferences()
       LUPPP_NOTE("No default controllers active.");
     }
 
+
+    cJSON* projDir=cJSON_GetObjectItem(preferencesJson,"saveDirectory");
+    string dir=getenv("HOME");
+    if(projDir)
+    {
+        stringstream s;
+        s<<dir<<"/"<<projDir->valuestring;
+        dir=s.str();
+    }
+    gui->setProjectsDir(dir);
+
     //Enable per track send and resturn jack ports?
     cJSON* jackPerTrackOutput=cJSON_GetObjectItem(preferencesJson,"enablePerTrackOutput");
     if(jackPerTrackOutput)
diff --git a/src/diskwriter.cxx b/src/diskwriter.cxx
index 690dc7c..7b3e58b 100644
--- a/src/diskwriter.cxx
+++ b/src/diskwriter.cxx
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ void DiskWriter::initialize(std::string path, std::string name )
   if ( sessionDirError )
   {
     // handle by using different filename?
-    LUPPP_WARN("Error creating session directory");
+    LUPPP_WARN("Error creating session directory. Does the path: %s exist?",path.c_str());
   }
   
   stringstream audioDirStream;
diff --git a/src/gui.cxx b/src/gui.cxx
index 7b6a7c4..6f6d22a 100644
--- a/src/gui.cxx
+++ b/src/gui.cxx
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ static void gui_header_callback(Fl_Widget *w, void *data)
     std::string tmp;
     {
       // Create the file chooser, and show it
-      Fl_File_Chooser chooser(getenv("HOME"),
+      Fl_File_Chooser chooser(gui->getProjectsDir().c_str(),
                               "*",
                               Fl_File_Chooser::DIRECTORY,
                               "Load Session");
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ static void gui_header_callback(Fl_Widget *w, void *data)
     const char* name = fl_input( "Save session as", gui->getDiskWriter()->getLastSaveName().c_str() );
     if ( name )
     {
-      gui->getDiskWriter()->initialize( getenv("HOME"), name );
+      gui->getDiskWriter()->initialize( gui->getProjectsDir().c_str(), name );
       LUPPP_NOTE("%s %s","Saving session as ", name );
       EventStateSave e;
       writeToDspRingbuffer( &e );
@@ -252,6 +252,16 @@ void Gui::selectLoadController(Fl_Widget* w, void*)
   
 }
 
+void Gui::setProjectsDir(string dir)
+{
+    lupppProjectsDir=dir;
+}
+
+string Gui::getProjectsDir()
+{
+    return lupppProjectsDir;
+}
+
 void Gui::selectSaveSample( int track, int scene )
 {
   EventStateSaveBuffer e;
diff --git a/src/gui.hxx b/src/gui.hxx
index 9a49fd1..a287da6 100644
--- a/src/gui.hxx
+++ b/src/gui.hxx
@@ -96,7 +96,11 @@ class Gui
     /// current special clip:
     int specialTrack;
     int specialScene;
-
+    
+    /// The project directory is the default directoy which is shown upon load/save
+    void setProjectsDir(string dir);
+    string getProjectsDir();
+    
     // save a particular sample to path
     std::string saveBufferPath;
   
@@ -109,6 +113,8 @@ class Gui
     
     OptionsWindow*    optionWindow;
     
+    std::string         lupppProjectsDir;
+    
     AudioEditor*        audioEditor;
     
     DiskReader*         diskReader;