diff --git a/src/api.c b/src/api.c
index 0b0ce8f..c7ecd36 100644
--- a/src/api.c
+++ b/src/api.c
@@ -169,9 +169,14 @@ void invoke_autoruns(WINDOW *window, ToxWindow *self)
     struct dirent *dir;
     char    abspath_buf[PATH_MAX + 1], err_buf[PATH_MAX + 1];
     size_t  path_len;
-    DIR    *d = opendir(user_settings->autorun_path);
+    DIR    *d;
     FILE   *fp;
 
+    if (user_settings->autorun_path[0] == '\0')
+        return;
+
+    d = opendir(user_settings->autorun_path);
+
     if (d == NULL) {
         snprintf(err_buf, PATH_MAX + 1, "Autorun path does not exist: %s", user_settings->autorun_path);
         api_display(err_buf);
diff --git a/src/settings.c b/src/settings.c
index 4a00b07..4fe1303 100644
--- a/src/settings.c
+++ b/src/settings.c
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ static void tox_defaults(struct user_settings *settings)
     strcpy(settings->download_path, "");
     strcpy(settings->chatlogs_path, "");
     strcpy(settings->avatar_path, "");
+    strcpy(settings->autorun_path, "");
     strcpy(settings->password_eval, "");
 }
 
@@ -421,6 +422,7 @@ int settings_load(struct user_settings *s, const char *patharg)
         }
 
 #ifdef PYTHON
+
         if ( config_setting_lookup_string(setting, tox_strings.autorun_path, &str) ) {
             snprintf(s->autorun_path, sizeof(s->autorun_path), "%s", str);
             int len = strlen(str);
@@ -430,6 +432,7 @@ int settings_load(struct user_settings *s, const char *patharg)
             else if (s->autorun_path[len - 1] != '/')
                 strcat(&s->autorun_path[len - 1], "/");
         }
+
 #endif
 
         if ( config_setting_lookup_string(setting, tox_strings.password_eval, &str) ) {