diff --git a/kvalikirstu2/kvali_interface.py b/kvalikirstu2/kvali_interface.py
index 73e2866ca9dd7d67f4e3e2a66278d6896a6bd352..2d18c02da37a0221db88a920f82656941cacf643 100644
--- a/kvalikirstu2/kvali_interface.py
+++ b/kvalikirstu2/kvali_interface.py
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ def set_study_path(path: str):
     :param path: The study path.
 
     """
+    if not path:
+        path = os.getcwd()
+
     args = argument_parser.get_args()
     logger.debug('setting study_path %s', path)
     _DATA['data_path'] = os.path.join(path, args.study_data_folder)