diff --git a/include/transport/util.h b/include/transport/util.h
index 5e7e4f4d..490724bf 100644
--- a/include/transport/util.h
+++ b/include/transport/util.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace Transport {
 
 namespace Util {
 
-void createDirectories(Transport::Config *config, boost::filesystem::path ph);
+void createDirectories(Transport::Config *config, const boost::filesystem::path& ph);
 
 void removeEverythingOlderThan(const std::vector<std::string> &dirs, time_t t);
 
diff --git a/spectrum/src/main.cpp b/spectrum/src/main.cpp
index 2397766b..a024138e 100644
--- a/spectrum/src/main.cpp
+++ b/spectrum/src/main.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,32 @@ static void daemonize(const char *cwd, const char *lock_file) {
 }
 #endif
 
+static void _createDirectories(Transport::Config *config, boost::filesystem::path ph) {
+	if (ph.empty() || exists(ph)) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	// First create branch, by calling ourself recursively
+	_createDirectories(config, ph.branch_path());
+	
+	// Now that parent's path exists, create the directory
+	boost::filesystem::create_directory(ph);
+
+#ifndef WIN32
+	if (!CONFIG_STRING(config, "service.group").empty() && !CONFIG_STRING(config, "service.user").empty()) {
+		struct group *gr;
+		if ((gr = getgrnam(CONFIG_STRING(config, "service.group").c_str())) == NULL) {
+			std::cerr << "Invalid service.group name " << CONFIG_STRING(config, "service.group") << "\n";
+		}
+		struct passwd *pw;
+		if ((pw = getpwnam(CONFIG_STRING(config, "service.user").c_str())) == NULL) {
+			std::cerr << "Invalid service.user name " << CONFIG_STRING(config, "service.user") << "\n";
+		}
+		chown(ph.string().c_str(), pw->pw_uid, gr->gr_gid);
+	}
+#endif
+}
+
 int mainloop() {
 
 #ifndef WIN32
@@ -400,7 +426,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	// create directories
 	try {
-		Transport::Util::createDirectories(&config, boost::filesystem::path(CONFIG_STRING(&config, "service.working_dir")));
+		_createDirectories(&config, boost::filesystem::path(CONFIG_STRING(&config, "service.working_dir")));
 	}
 	catch (...) {
 		std::cerr << "Can't create service.working_dir directory " << CONFIG_STRING(&config, "service.working_dir") << ".\n";
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index d96da239..b8c3adc5 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ namespace Transport {
 
 namespace Util {
 
-void createDirectories(Transport::Config *config, path ph) {
+void createDirectories(Transport::Config *config, const boost::filesystem::path& ph) {
 	if (ph.empty() || exists(ph)) {
 		return;
 	}