diff --git a/electrum b/electrum
index 6128c35c5..669b7ee38 100755
--- a/electrum
+++ b/electrum
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         util.check_windows_wallet_migration()
 
     config = SimpleConfig(config_options)
-    storage = WalletStorage(config)
 
     if len(args)==0:
         url = None
@@ -149,6 +148,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
 
     # instanciate wallet for command-line
+    storage = WalletStorage(config)
     wallet = Wallet(storage)
 
     if cmd not in known_commands:
diff --git a/gui/installwizard.py b/gui/installwizard.py
index 86d181576..e6a1654e6 100644
--- a/gui/installwizard.py
+++ b/gui/installwizard.py
@@ -177,8 +177,6 @@ class InstallWizard(QDialog):
             self.config.set_key("server", None, True)
             self.config.set_key('auto_cycle', False, True)
 
-        #self.interface.start(wait = False)
-
         # generate the first addresses, in case we are offline
         if s is None or a == 'create':
             wallet.synchronize()
diff --git a/lib/blockchain.py b/lib/blockchain.py
index c48c7fb66..702c88166 100644
--- a/lib/blockchain.py
+++ b/lib/blockchain.py
@@ -230,9 +230,7 @@ class BlockchainVerifier(threading.Thread):
         return rev_hex(Hash(self.header_to_string(header).decode('hex')).encode('hex'))
 
     def path(self):
-        wdir = self.config.get('blockchain_headers_path', user_dir())
-        if wdir and not os.path.exists( wdir ): os.mkdir(wdir)
-        return os.path.join( wdir, 'blockchain_headers')
+        return os.path.join( self.config.path, 'blockchain_headers')
 
     def init_headers_file(self):
         filename = self.path()
@@ -327,3 +325,5 @@ class BlockchainVerifier(threading.Thread):
         new_bits = c + MM * i
         return new_bits, new_target
 
+
+
diff --git a/lib/simple_config.py b/lib/simple_config.py
index 4eb263381..62d51188e 100644
--- a/lib/simple_config.py
+++ b/lib/simple_config.py
@@ -20,11 +20,15 @@ a SimpleConfig instance then reads the wallet file.
 
         # system conf, readonly
         self.system_config = {}
-        if options.get('portable') == False:
+        if options.get('portable') is not True:
             self.read_system_config()
 
+        # read path
+        self.path = self.system_config.get('electrum_path')
+        if self.path is None:
+            self.path = user_dir()
+
         # user conf, writeable
-        self.user_dir = user_dir()
         self.user_config = {}
         if options.get('portable') == False:
             self.read_user_config()
@@ -33,17 +37,17 @@ a SimpleConfig instance then reads the wallet file.
         self.options_config = options
 
         # init path
-        self.init_path(options)
+        self.init_path()
 
-        print_error( "user dir", self.user_dir)
+        print_error( "electrum path", self.path)
 
 
-    def init_path(self, options):
+    def init_path(self):
 
         # Look for wallet file in the default data directory.
         # Make wallet directory if it does not yet exist.
-        if not os.path.exists(self.user_dir):
-            os.mkdir(self.user_dir)
+        if not os.path.exists(self.path):
+            os.mkdir(self.path)
 
 
         # portable wallet: use the same directory for wallet and headers file
@@ -130,9 +134,9 @@ a SimpleConfig instance then reads the wallet file.
 
     def read_user_config(self):
         """Parse and store the user config settings in electrum.conf into user_config[]."""
-        if not self.user_dir: return
+        if not self.path: return
 
-        path = os.path.join(self.user_dir, "config")
+        path = os.path.join(self.path, "config")
         if os.path.exists(path):
             try:
                 with open(path, "r") as f:
@@ -148,9 +152,9 @@ a SimpleConfig instance then reads the wallet file.
 
 
     def save_user_config(self):
-        if not self.user_dir: return
+        if not self.path: return
 
-        path = os.path.join(self.user_dir, "config")
+        path = os.path.join(self.path, "config")
         s = repr(self.user_config)
         f = open(path,"w")
         f.write( s )