diff --git a/onionshare/__init__.py b/onionshare/__init__.py
index 86f03b84..52226b48 100644
--- a/onionshare/__init__.py
+++ b/onionshare/__init__.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 import os, sys, time, argparse, threading
 
 from . import strings
-from .common import Common
+from .common import Common, DownloadsDirErrorCannotCreate, DownloadsDirErrorNotWritable
 from .web import Web
 from .onion import *
 from .onionshare import OnionShare
@@ -92,17 +92,19 @@ def main(cwd=None):
     # In receive mode, validate downloads dir
     if receive:
         valid = True
-        if not os.path.isdir(common.settings.get('downloads_dir')):
-            try:
-                os.mkdir(common.settings.get('downloads_dir'), 0o700)
-            except:
-                print(strings._('error_cannot_create_downloads_dir').format(common.settings.get('downloads_dir')))
-                valid = False
-        if valid and not os.access(common.settings.get('downloads_dir'), os.W_OK):
+        try:
+            common.validate_downloads_dir()
+
+        except DownloadsDirErrorCannotCreate:
+            print(strings._('error_cannot_create_downloads_dir').format(common.settings.get('downloads_dir')))
+            valid = False
+
+        except DownloadsDirErrorNotWritable:
             print(strings._('error_downloads_dir_not_writable').format(common.settings.get('downloads_dir')))
             valid = False
-    if not valid:
-        sys.exit()
+
+        if not valid:
+            sys.exit()
 
     # Create the Web object
     web = Web(common, False, receive)
diff --git a/onionshare/common.py b/onionshare/common.py
index 628064df..ad2f4574 100644
--- a/onionshare/common.py
+++ b/onionshare/common.py
@@ -31,6 +31,21 @@ import time
 
 from .settings import Settings
 
+
+class DownloadsDirErrorCannotCreate(Exception):
+    """
+    Error creating the downloads dir (~/OnionShare by default).
+    """
+    pass
+
+
+class DownloadsDirErrorNotWritable(Exception):
+    """
+    Downloads dir is not writable.
+    """
+    pass
+
+
 class Common(object):
     """
     The Common object is shared amongst all parts of OnionShare.
@@ -321,6 +336,19 @@ class Common(object):
                 }"""
         }
 
+    def validate_downloads_dir(self):
+        """
+        Validate that downloads_dir exists, and create it if it doesn't
+        """
+        if not os.path.isdir(self.settings.get('downloads_dir')):
+            try:
+                os.mkdir(self.settings.get('downloads_dir'), 0o700)
+            except:
+                raise DownloadsDirErrorCannotCreate
+
+        if not os.access(self.settings.get('downloads_dir'), os.W_OK):
+            raise DownloadsDirErrorNotWritable
+
     @staticmethod
     def random_string(num_bytes, output_len=None):
         """