diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 85b3a20..e2aace7 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -206,8 +206,15 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	/* now we load the config */
 	Config conf;
-
 	conf.read(argc, argv);
+
+	if (!conf.gameFolder.empty())
+		if (chdir(conf.gameFolder.c_str()) != 0)
+		{
+			showInitError(std::string("Unable to switch into gameFolder ") + conf.gameFolder);
+			return 0;
+		}
+
 	conf.readGameINI();
 
 	assert(conf.rgssVersion >= 1 && conf.rgssVersion <= 3);
diff --git a/src/sharedstate.cpp b/src/sharedstate.cpp
index 07ea572..fb201e2 100644
--- a/src/sharedstate.cpp
+++ b/src/sharedstate.cpp
@@ -111,16 +111,6 @@ struct SharedStatePrivate
 	      fontState(threadData->config),
 	      stampCounter(0)
 	{
-		if (!config.gameFolder.empty())
-		{
-			int result = chdir(config.gameFolder.c_str());
-
-			if (result != 0)
-				throw Exception(Exception::MKXPError,
-			                    "Unable to switch into gameFolder '%s'",
-			                    config.gameFolder.c_str());
-		}
-
 		// FIXME find out correct archive filename
 		std::string archPath = defGameArchive();