diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index a33950b..097e83a 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 use std::{
 	collections::HashMap,
 	env::var,
-	fs::read_to_string,
-	path::PathBuf
+	fs::{ create_dir, read_to_string, File },
+	io::Error,
+	path::PathBuf,
+	process::exit
 };
 
 use tera::Context;
@@ -13,6 +15,8 @@ use toml::{
 	Value
 };
 
+use crate::error;
+
 ///	configuration struct
 pub struct Config {
 	pub dir: String,
@@ -27,6 +31,14 @@ impl Config {
 		let mut dir = PathBuf::from(&home);
 		dir.push(".config/oink");
 
+		if !dir.exists() {
+			println!("missing directory at {dir:?}, creating...");
+			let setup = setup_dirs(&dir);
+			if setup.is_err() { error::setup_dirs(&dir); }
+			println!("created configuration directory, exiting...");
+			exit(0);
+		}
+
 		//	read toml file
 		let mut toml_path = dir.clone();
 		toml_path.push("oink.toml");
@@ -81,3 +93,25 @@ impl Config {
 	}
 }
 
+fn setup_dirs(path: &PathBuf) -> Result<(), Error> {
+	//	create main directory
+	create_dir(path)?;
+
+	//	create template directory
+	let mut templates = path.clone();
+	templates.push("templates/");
+	create_dir(templates)?;
+
+	//	create generated directory
+	let mut generated = path.clone();
+	generated.push("generated/");
+	create_dir(generated)?;
+
+	//	create main toml
+	let mut toml = path.clone();
+	toml.push("oink.toml");
+	File::create(toml)?;
+
+	Ok(())
+}
+
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
index b2662a2..2446fe5 100644
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,15 @@
-use std::process::exit;
+use std::{
+	path::PathBuf,
+	process::exit
+};
 
 pub fn no_targets() {
 	println!("oink: configuration has no targets");
 	exit(2);
 }
 
+pub fn setup_dirs(path: &PathBuf) {
+	println!("oink: failed to create directory structure at {path:?}");
+	exit(3);
+}
+