diff --git a/src/skanlite.cpp b/src/skanlite.cpp
--- a/src/skanlite.cpp
+++ b/src/skanlite.cpp
@@ -372,18 +372,45 @@
     }
 }
 
+bool pathExists(const QString& dir, QWidget* parent)
+{
+    // propose directory creation if doesn't exists
+    QUrl dirUrl(dir);
+    if (dirUrl.isLocalFile()) {
+        QDir path(dirUrl.path());
+        if (!path.exists()) {
+            if (KMessageBox::questionYesNo(parent, i18n("Directory doesn't exist, do you wish to create it?")) == KMessageBox::ButtonCode::Yes ) {
+                if (!path.mkpath(QLatin1String("."))) {
+                    KMessageBox::error(parent, i18n("Could not create directory %1", path.path()));
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (parent) {
+        // allows UI to repaint itself after KMessageBox is closed
+        // as rendering may be freezed till huge image is saved to a slow drive.
+        parent->repaint();
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
 void Skanlite::saveImage()
 {
     // ask the first time if we are in "ask on first" mode
-    if ((m_settingsUi.saveModeCB->currentIndex() == SaveModeAskFirst) && m_firstImage) {
+    QString dir = QDir::cleanPath(m_saveLocation->u_urlRequester->url().url()).append(QLatin1Char('/')); //make sure whole value is processed as path to directory
+
+    while ((m_firstImage && (m_settingsUi.saveModeCB->currentIndex() == SaveModeAskFirst)) ||
+           !pathExists(dir, this)) {
         if (m_saveLocation->exec() != QFileDialog::Accepted) {
             m_ksanew->scanCancel(); // In case we are cancelling a document feeder scan
             return;
         }
+        dir = QDir::cleanPath(m_saveLocation->u_urlRequester->url().url()).append(QLatin1Char('/'));
         m_firstImage = false;
     }
 
-    QString dir = QDir::cleanPath(m_saveLocation->u_urlRequester->url().url()).append(QLatin1Char('/')); //make sure whole value is processed as path to directory
     QString prefix = m_saveLocation->u_imgPrefix->text();
     QString imgFormat = m_saveLocation->u_imgFormat->currentText().toLower();
     int fileNumber = m_saveLocation->u_numStartFrom->value();