diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/startup.cc b/gtk2_ardour/startup.cc
index c7ee065b32..1722a864c1 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/startup.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/startup.cc
@@ -111,6 +111,17 @@ Ardour will play NO role in monitoring"))
         setup_alpha_page ();
 
 	if (new_user) {
+
+		/* Create the config directory so that we have somewhere to put the
+		   been_here_before file.
+		*/
+		try {
+			sys::create_directories (user_config_directory ());
+		}
+		catch (const sys::filesystem_error& ex) {
+			error << "Could not create user configuration directory" << endmsg;
+		}
+		
 		/* "touch" the file */
 		ofstream fout (been_here_before.to_string().c_str());
 		setup_new_user_page ();