diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 7c6193c..1dfe2f1 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
             "program": "${workspaceFolder}/main.go",
             "env": {
                 "GO_SCAN_SCANNER": "utsushi:esci:usb:/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-5/1-5:1.0",
-                "GO_SCAN_OUTPUTDIRECTORY": "/tmp",
+                "GO_SCAN_OUTPUTDIRECTORY": "/tmp/scans",
                 "GO_SCAN_ARGUMENTS": "--jpeg-quality 100 --mode Color --scan-area ISO/A4/Portrait --resolution 600"
             }
         }
diff --git a/log/log.go b/log/log.go
index 9ce4b46..7bf3c65 100644
--- a/log/log.go
+++ b/log/log.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package log
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"velvettear/go-scan/util/date"
 )
 
@@ -22,6 +23,11 @@ func Error(logMessage string, logExtras ...string) {
 	trace(3, logMessage, logExtras...)
 }
 
+func Fatal(logMessage string, logExtras ...string) {
+	trace(4, logMessage, logExtras...)
+	os.Exit(1)
+}
+
 // unexported functions
 func trace(logLevel int, logMessage string, logExtras ...string) {
 	if len(logMessage) == 0 {
@@ -46,6 +52,8 @@ func trace(logLevel int, logMessage string, logExtras ...string) {
 
 func getPrefixForLogLevel(loglevel int) string {
 	switch loglevel {
+	case 4:
+		return "fatal"
 	case 3:
 		return "error"
 	case 2:
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 745e4cf..9af1eff 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ func startServer() {
 	log.Info("starting server '" + serverAddress + "'...")
 	error := http.ListenAndServe(serverAddress, nil)
 	if error != nil {
-		log.Error("an error occured starting the server", error.Error())
+		log.Fatal("an error occured starting the server", error.Error())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -144,6 +145,10 @@ func generateScanName(filename string) string {
 	if !strings.HasSuffix(filename, ".png") {
 		filename += ".png"
 	}
+	error := os.MkdirAll(configuration.ScannerConfig.OutputDirectory, 0755)
+	if error != nil {
+		log.Fatal("an error occurred creating the output directory", error.Error())
+	}
 	return configuration.ScannerConfig.OutputDirectory + filename
 }