diff --git a/src/mainscreen.py b/src/mainscreen.py
index 246c725..516b5f8 100644
--- a/src/mainscreen.py
+++ b/src/mainscreen.py
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ class MainWindow(QtGui.QMainWindow):
         self.setMinimumSize(920, 500)
         self.setGeometry(400, 400, 920, 500)
         self.setWindowTitle('Toxygen')
+        os.chdir(curr_directory() + '/images/')
         main = QtGui.QWidget()
         grid = QtGui.QGridLayout()
         search = QtGui.QWidget()
diff --git a/src/profile.py b/src/profile.py
index 661b485..edf176a 100644
--- a/src/profile.py
+++ b/src/profile.py
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ class Profile(Contact, Singleton):
             avatar_path = (ProfileHelper.get_path() + 'avatars/{}.png').format(friend.tox_id[:TOX_PUBLIC_KEY_SIZE * 2])
             if not os.path.isfile(avatar_path):  # load default image
                 avatar_path = curr_directory() + '/images/avatar.png'
+            os.chdir(os.path.dirname(avatar_path))
             pixmap = QtGui.QPixmap(QtCore.QSize(64, 64))
             pixmap.load(avatar_path)
             self._screen.account_avatar.setScaledContents(False)