diff --git a/crossfire/server.rkt b/crossfire/server.rkt
index 8ccfef8..42211d8 100644
--- a/crossfire/server.rkt
+++ b/crossfire/server.rkt
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@
 
 ;; cleanly recovers from potential crash situations
 (define (server-cleanup-unused-files)
+  (unless (directory-exists? *server-files-path*)
+    (make-directory* *server-files-path*))
   (define existing-ids (mutable-set))
   (call-with-transaction (current-db) (lambda ()
     (define (cleanup id exists? path)