diff --git a/misc.c b/misc.c
index 52830ad..14316bd 100644
--- a/misc.c
+++ b/misc.c
@@ -171,11 +171,11 @@ void get_defaults(char *filename, struct udata *ud)
 			config_destroy(cf);
 			exit(2);
 		}
-
-		v = c_str(cf, "OTR_STORAGEDIR", STORAGEDEFAULT);
-		strcpy(STORAGEDIR, v);
 	}
 
+	v = c_str(cf, "OTR_STORAGEDIR", STORAGEDEFAULT);
+	strcpy(STORAGEDIR, v);
+
 	if (ud == NULL) {
 		/* being invoked by ocat; return */
 		return;