diff --git a/cmd/ncpt/app.go b/cmd/ncpt/app.go
index 8510a18..fffe67d 100644
--- a/cmd/ncpt/app.go
+++ b/cmd/ncpt/app.go
@@ -62,13 +62,14 @@ func (a *AppState) initialize() error {
 	flag.Parse()
 	a.Parms = flag.Args()
 
-	if err := a.validateConfDir(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	a.QuestsDir = a.ConfDir + "/quests"
 	a.ShipsDir = a.ConfDir + "/ships"
 	a.HoldsDir = a.ConfDir + "/holds"
 
+	if err := a.validateConfDir(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Figure out what 'mode' we're running in
 	if *validateQuest != "" {
 		a.Mode = MODE_VALIDATE_QUEST
@@ -129,15 +130,19 @@ func (a *AppState) validateConfDir() error {
 		ans := cli.PromptWDefault(fmt.Sprintf("Create configuration directories (%s)? [n]", a.ConfDir), "n")
 		if strings.ToLower(ans) == "y" {
 			if err := os.Mkdir(a.ConfDir, 0700); err != nil {
+				cli.PrintErr("Error creating main configuration directory")
 				return err
 			}
 			if err := os.Mkdir(a.QuestsDir, 0700); err != nil {
+				cli.PrintErr(fmt.Sprintf("Error creating Quests directory (%s)", a.QuestsDir))
 				return err
 			}
 			if err := os.Mkdir(a.ShipsDir, 0700); err != nil {
+				cli.PrintErr(fmt.Sprintf("Error creating Ships directory (%s)", a.ShipsDir))
 				return err
 			}
 			if err := os.Mkdir(a.HoldsDir, 0700); err != nil {
+				cli.PrintErr(fmt.Sprintf("Error creating Holds directory (%s)", a.HoldsDir))
 				return err
 			}
 		} else {