diff --git a/myriad/__init__.py b/myriad/__init__.py
index 66be3d6..04ba5de 100644
--- a/myriad/__init__.py
+++ b/myriad/__init__.py
@@ -11,8 +11,13 @@ def create_app():
     app.config.from_pyfile('config.py')
     app.config.from_mapping(DATABASE=os.path.join(app.instance_path, 'database.sqlite'),)
 
-    # ensure the instance folder exists
+    # ensure the necessary directories exist
     os.makedirs(app.instance_path, exist_ok=True)
+    os.makedirs(app.config["ICON_UPLOAD_FOLDER"], exist_ok=True)
+    os.makedirs(app.config["BLINKIES_UPLOAD_FOLDER"], exist_ok=True)
+    os.makedirs(app.config["STAMPS_UPLOAD_FOLDER"], exist_ok=True)
+    os.makedirs(app.config["MISC_UPLOAD_FOLDER"], exist_ok=True)
+    os.makedirs(app.config["TMP_FOLDER"], exist_ok=True)
     
     from . import db
     db.init_app(app)