diff --git a/src/main/java/qupath/ext/wsinfer/ui/WSInferPrefs.java b/src/main/java/qupath/ext/wsinfer/ui/WSInferPrefs.java
index 8b03bca..1f61579 100644
--- a/src/main/java/qupath/ext/wsinfer/ui/WSInferPrefs.java
+++ b/src/main/java/qupath/ext/wsinfer/ui/WSInferPrefs.java
@@ -66,6 +66,6 @@ public static Property<Integer> numWorkersProperty() {
     private static String getUserDir() {
         String userPath = PathPrefs.getUserPath();
         String cachePath = System.getProperty("user.dir") + File.separator + ".cache";
-        return userPath == null ?  cachePath : userPath;
+        return userPath == null || userPath.isEmpty() ?  cachePath : userPath;
     }
 }