diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/FemTools.py b/src/Mod/Fem/FemTools.py
index 58c4821d5..d854d0e26 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/FemTools.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/FemTools.py
@@ -201,6 +201,11 @@ class FemTools(QtCore.QRunnable, QtCore.QObject):
             message += "No active Analysis\n"
         if self.analysis_type not in self.known_analysis_types:
             message += "Unknown analysis type: {}\n".format(self.analysis_type)
+        if not self.working_dir:
+            message += "Working directory not set\n"
+        import os
+        if not (os.path.isdir(self.working_dir)):
+                message += "Working directory \'{}\' doesn't exist.".format(self.working_dir)
         if not self.mesh:
             message += "No mesh object in the Analysis\n"
         if not self.material:
@@ -312,11 +317,20 @@ class FemTools(QtCore.QRunnable, QtCore.QObject):
     #  @param self The python object self
     #  @working_dir directory to be used for writing .inp file and executing CalculiX ccx
     def setup_working_dir(self, working_dir=None):
-        if working_dir is None:
-            self.fem_prefs = FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/Mod/Fem")
-            self.working_dir = self.fem_prefs.GetString("WorkingDir", "/tmp")
-        else:
+        import os
+        if working_dir is not None:
             self.working_dir = working_dir
+        else:
+            self.working_dir = FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/Mod/Fem").GetString("WorkingDir")
+
+        if not (os.path.isdir(self.working_dir)):
+            try:
+                os.makedirs(self.working_dir)
+            except:
+                print ("Dir \'{}\' doesn't exist and cannot be created.".format(self.working_dir))
+                import tempfile
+                self.working_dir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+                print ("Dir \'{}\' will be used instead.".format(self.working_dir))
         # Update inp file name
         self.set_inp_file_name()
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/InitGui.py b/src/Mod/Fem/InitGui.py
index dff1c52a1..bb6339365 100755
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/InitGui.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/InitGui.py
@@ -58,6 +58,23 @@ class FemWorkbench (Workbench):
                     FreeCAD.Console.PrintError("CalculiX ccx binary not found! Please set it manually in FEM preferences.\n")
             except Exception as e:
                 FreeCAD.Console.PrintError(e.message)
+        fem_prefs = FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/Mod/Fem")
+
+        import os
+        working_dir = FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/Mod/Fem").GetString("WorkingDir")
+        if not (os.path.isdir(working_dir)):
+            try:
+                os.makedirs(working_dir)
+            except:
+                print ("Dir \'{}\' from FEM preferences doesn't exist and cannot be created.".format(working_dir))
+                import tempfile
+                working_dir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+                print ("Dir \'{}\' will be used instead.".format(working_dir))
+        if working_dir:
+            FreeCAD.ParamGet("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/Mod/Fem").SetString("WorkingDir", working_dir)
+        else:
+            FreeCAD.Console.PrintError("Setting working directory \'{}\' for ccx failed!\n")
+
 
     def GetClassName(self):
         return "FemGui::Workbench"
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/TestFem.py b/src/Mod/Fem/TestFem.py
index 9355f767c..c4561a663 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/TestFem.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/TestFem.py
@@ -182,7 +182,12 @@ class FemTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.analysis.Member = self.analysis.Member + [self.pressure_constraint]
 
         fea = FemTools.FemTools(self.analysis, test_mode=True)
-        fcc_print('Checking FEM inp file prerequisites...')
+        fcc_print('Setting up working directory {}'.format(static_analysis_dir))
+        fea.setup_working_dir(static_analysis_dir)
+        self.assertTrue(True if fea.working_dir == static_analysis_dir else False,
+                        "Setting working directory {} failed".format(static_analysis_dir))
+
+        fcc_print('Checking FEM inp file prerequisites for static analysis...')
         error = fea.check_prerequisites()
         self.assertFalse(error, "FemTools check_prerequisites returned error message: {}".format(error))
 
@@ -192,11 +197,6 @@ class FemTest(unittest.TestCase):
         fea.set_analysis_type("static")
         self.assertTrue(True if fea.analysis_type == 'static' else False, "Setting anlysis type to \'static\' failed")
 
-        fcc_print('Setting up working directory {}'.format(static_analysis_dir))
-        fea.setup_working_dir(static_analysis_dir)
-        self.assertTrue(True if fea.working_dir == static_analysis_dir else False,
-                        "Setting working directory {} failed".format(static_analysis_dir))
-
         fcc_print('Writing {}/{}.inp for static analysis'.format(static_analysis_dir, mesh_name))
         error = fea.write_inp_file()
         self.assertFalse(error, "Writing failed")
@@ -238,6 +238,10 @@ class FemTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(True if fea.working_dir == frequency_analysis_dir else False,
                         "Setting working directory {} failed".format(frequency_analysis_dir))
 
+        fcc_print('Checking FEM inp file prerequisites for frequency analysis...')
+        error = fea.check_prerequisites()
+        self.assertFalse(error, "FemTools check_prerequisites returned error message: {}".format(error))
+
         fcc_print('Writing {}/{}.inp for frequency analysis'.format(frequency_analysis_dir, mesh_name))
         error = fea.write_inp_file()
         self.assertFalse(error, "Writing failed")