diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 39bc17b..0991643 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ static const float TRANSPARENCY   = 0.4;
 static const char FORMAT_COMMAND[]     = "<b>%s</b>";
 static const char FORMAT_DESCRIPTION[] = "<i>%s</i>";
 
+/* directories and files */
+static const char ZATHURA_DIR[]   = ".zathura";
+static const char BOOKMARK_FILE[] = "bookmarks";
+
 /* look */
 static const char font[]                   = "monospace normal 9";
 static const char default_bgcolor[]        = "#000000";
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index 1c4536a..42fb5ea 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ struct
 } Zathura;
 
 /* function declarations */
+void init_directories();
 void init_zathura();
 void add_marker(int);
 void build_index(GtkTreeModel*, GtkTreeIter*, PopplerIndexIter*);
@@ -303,6 +304,14 @@ gboolean cb_inputbar_activate(GtkEntry*, gpointer);
 #include "config.h"
 
 /* function implementation */
+void
+init_directories()
+{
+  gchar *base_directory = g_build_filename(g_get_home_dir(), ZATHURA_DIR, NULL);
+  g_mkdir_with_parents(base_directory,  0771);
+  g_free(base_directory);
+}
+
 void
 init_zathura()
 {
@@ -2491,6 +2500,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   gtk_init(&argc, &argv);
 
   init_zathura();
+  init_directories();
+
   update_status();
 
   if(argc >= 2)