diff --git a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkin.java b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkin.java
index fd36dcd1feb..641f54ee5cf 100644
--- a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkin.java
+++ b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkin.java
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public class FSkin {
         FSkinTexture.BG_TEXTURE.load(preferredDir, ForgeConstants.DEFAULT_SKINS_DIR); //load background texture early for splash screen
 
         if (splashScreen != null) {
-            final FileHandle f = Gdx.files.local(preferredDir + "bg_splash.png");
+            final FileHandle f = Gdx.files.absolute(preferredDir + "bg_splash.png");
             if (!f.exists()) {
                 if (!skinName.equals("default")) {
                     FSkin.loadLight("default", splashScreen);
@@ -135,12 +135,12 @@ public class FSkin {
 
         // Grab and test various sprite files.
         String defaultDir = ForgeConstants.DEFAULT_SKINS_DIR;
-        final FileHandle f1 = Gdx.files.local(defaultDir + SourceFile.ICONS.getFilename());
-        final FileHandle f2 = Gdx.files.local(preferredDir + SourceFile.ICONS.getFilename());
-        final FileHandle f3 = Gdx.files.local(defaultDir + SourceFile.FOILS.getFilename());
-        final FileHandle f4 = Gdx.files.local(defaultDir + ForgeConstants.SPRITE_AVATARS_FILE);
-        final FileHandle f5 = Gdx.files.local(preferredDir + ForgeConstants.SPRITE_AVATARS_FILE);
-        final FileHandle f6 = Gdx.files.local(defaultDir + SourceFile.OLD_FOILS.getFilename());
+        final FileHandle f1 = Gdx.files.absolute(defaultDir + SourceFile.ICONS.getFilename());
+        final FileHandle f2 = Gdx.files.absolute(preferredDir + SourceFile.ICONS.getFilename());
+        final FileHandle f3 = Gdx.files.absolute(defaultDir + SourceFile.FOILS.getFilename());
+        final FileHandle f4 = Gdx.files.absolute(defaultDir + ForgeConstants.SPRITE_AVATARS_FILE);
+        final FileHandle f5 = Gdx.files.absolute(preferredDir + ForgeConstants.SPRITE_AVATARS_FILE);
+        final FileHandle f6 = Gdx.files.absolute(defaultDir + SourceFile.OLD_FOILS.getFilename());
 
         try {
             textures.put(f1.path(), new Texture(f1));
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ public class FSkin {
     public static ArrayList<String> getSkinDirectoryNames() {
         final ArrayList<String> mySkins = new ArrayList<String>();
 
-        final FileHandle dir = Gdx.files.local(ForgeConstants.SKINS_DIR);
+        final FileHandle dir = Gdx.files.absolute(ForgeConstants.SKINS_DIR);
         if (!dir.exists() || !dir.isDirectory()) {
             System.err.println("FSkin > can't find skins directory!");
         }
diff --git a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinFont.java b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinFont.java
index dbfeb639fbc..d0ca6caa771 100644
--- a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinFont.java
+++ b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinFont.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public class FSkinFont {
         String dir = FSkin.getDir();
 
         //generate .fnt and .png files from .ttf if needed
-        FileHandle ttfFile = Gdx.files.local(dir + TTF_FILE);
+        FileHandle ttfFile = Gdx.files.absolute(dir + TTF_FILE);
         if (ttfFile.exists()) {
             FreeTypeFontGenerator generator = new FreeTypeFontGenerator(ttfFile);
             font = generator.generateFont(size);
diff --git a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinImage.java b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinImage.java
index 013b0922d01..cc702368b13 100644
--- a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinImage.java
+++ b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinImage.java
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ public enum FSkinImage implements FImage {
         String preferredFile = preferredDir + filename;
         Texture texture = textures.get(preferredFile);
         if (texture == null) {
-            FileHandle file = Gdx.files.local(preferredFile);
+            FileHandle file = Gdx.files.absolute(preferredFile);
             if (file.exists()) {
                 try {
                     texture = new Texture(file);
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ public enum FSkinImage implements FImage {
         String defaultFile = defaultDir + filename;
         texture = textures.get(defaultFile);
         if (texture == null) {
-            FileHandle file = Gdx.files.local(defaultFile);
+            FileHandle file = Gdx.files.absolute(defaultFile);
             if (file.exists()) {
                 try {
                     texture = new Texture(file);
diff --git a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinTexture.java b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinTexture.java
index feec23ae030..da2f15cd915 100644
--- a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinTexture.java
+++ b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/FSkinTexture.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public enum FSkinTexture implements FImage {
 
     public void load(String preferredDir, String defaultDir) {
         String preferredFile = preferredDir + filename;
-        FileHandle file = Gdx.files.local(preferredFile);
+        FileHandle file = Gdx.files.absolute(preferredFile);
         if (file.exists()) {
             try {
                 texture = new Texture(file);
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public enum FSkinTexture implements FImage {
         if (texture == null) {
             //use default file if can't use preferred file
             String defaultFile = defaultDir + filename;
-            file = Gdx.files.local(defaultFile);
+            file = Gdx.files.absolute(defaultFile);
             if (file.exists()) {
                 try {
                     texture = new Texture(file);
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public enum FSkinTexture implements FImage {
                 catch (final Exception e) {
                     System.err.println("Failed to load skin file: " + defaultFile);
                     e.printStackTrace();
+                    return;
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/ImageCache.java b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/ImageCache.java
index 4171cb59e71..e00c1351ca4 100644
--- a/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/ImageCache.java
+++ b/forge-gui-mobile/src/forge/assets/ImageCache.java
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class ImageCache {
     static {
         Texture defImage = null;
         try {
-            defImage = new Texture(Gdx.files.local(ForgeConstants.NO_CARD_FILE));
+            defImage = new Texture(Gdx.files.absolute(ForgeConstants.NO_CARD_FILE));
         } catch (Exception ex) {
             System.err.println("could not load default card image");
         } finally {
diff --git a/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/properties/ForgeProfileProperties.java b/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/properties/ForgeProfileProperties.java
index 160781767f9..bfaf61d7864 100644
--- a/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/properties/ForgeProfileProperties.java
+++ b/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/properties/ForgeProfileProperties.java
@@ -54,6 +54,16 @@ public class ForgeProfileProperties {
         cardPicsDir = cacheDir + "pics/cards/";
         cardPicsSubDir = new HashMap<String, String>();
         serverPort = 0;
+
+        //ensure directories exist
+        File dir = new File(userDir);
+        if (!dir.exists()) {
+            dir.mkdirs();
+        }
+        dir = new File(cacheDir);
+        if (!dir.exists()) {
+            dir.mkdirs();
+        }
     }
 
     public ForgeProfileProperties(String filename) {