diff --git a/src/ciderlib/support/logfile.c b/src/ciderlib/support/logfile.c
index ba42a1309..6222790c1 100644
--- a/src/ciderlib/support/logfile.c
+++ b/src/ciderlib/support/logfile.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Author:	1992 David A. Gates, U. C. Berkeley CAD Group
 
 static char *LogFileName = "cider.log";
 static int LogError = 0;
+extern char *set_output_path(char *filename);
 
 void
 LOGmakeEntry(char *name, char *description)
@@ -27,14 +28,17 @@ LOGmakeEntry(char *name, char *description)
 #ifdef ultrix
   if ((fpLog = fopen(LogFileName, "A")) == NULL) {
 #else
-  if ((fpLog = fopen(LogFileName, "a")) == NULL) {
+ /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+  char *nname = set_output_path(LogFileName);
+  if ((fpLog = fopen(nname, "a")) == NULL) {
 #endif
     if (!LogError)
-      perror(LogFileName);
+      perror(nname);
     LogError = 1;
   } else {
     fprintf(fpLog, "<%05d> %s: %s\n", procStamp, name, description);
     fclose(fpLog);
     LogError = 0;
   }
+  tfree(nname);
 }
diff --git a/src/frontend/hpgl.c b/src/frontend/hpgl.c
index bb5761a76..f9833202d 100644
--- a/src/frontend/hpgl.c
+++ b/src/frontend/hpgl.c
@@ -116,11 +116,14 @@ GL_NewViewport(GRAPH *graph)
 {
     hcopygraphid = graph->graphid;
 
-    if ((plotfile = fopen((char*) graph->devdep, "w")) == NULL) {
-        perror((char*) graph->devdep);
-        graph->devdep = NULL;
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(graph->devdep);
+    if ((plotfile = fopen((char*) nname, "w")) == NULL) {
+        perror(nname);
+        tfree(nname);
         return (1);
     }
+    tfree(nname);
 
     if (graph->absolute.width) {
         /* hardcopying from the screen */
diff --git a/src/frontend/inp.c b/src/frontend/inp.c
index 680e93837..18f606d8f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/inp.c
+++ b/src/frontend/inp.c
@@ -678,7 +678,10 @@ inp_spsource(FILE *fp, bool comfile, char *filename, bool intfile)
             /* print out the expanded deck into debug-out2.txt */
             if (ft_ngdebug) {
                 /*debug: print into file*/
-                FILE *fdo = fopen("debug-out2.txt", "w");
+                /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+                char *nname = set_output_path("debug-out2.txt");
+                FILE *fdo = fopen(nname, "w");
+                tfree(nname);
                 if (!fdo)
                     fprintf(cp_err, "Could not open file debug-out2.txt for writing debug info. \n");
                 else {
@@ -832,7 +835,10 @@ inp_spsource(FILE *fp, bool comfile, char *filename, bool intfile)
         /* print out the expanded deck into debug-out3.txt */
         if (ft_ngdebug) {
             /*debug: print into file*/
-            FILE *fdo = fopen("debug-out3.txt", "w");
+            /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+            char *nname = set_output_path("debug-out3.txt");
+            FILE *fdo = fopen(nname, "w");
+            tfree(nname);
             if (!fdo)
                 fprintf(cp_err, "Could not open file debug-out3.txt for writing debug info. \n");
             else {
diff --git a/src/frontend/inpcom.c b/src/frontend/inpcom.c
index d2bbd6874..d780214e7 100644
--- a/src/frontend/inpcom.c
+++ b/src/frontend/inpcom.c
@@ -640,8 +640,11 @@ inp_readall(FILE *fp, char *dir_name, bool comfile, bool intfile, bool *expr_w_t
 
         if (ft_ngdebug) {
             /*debug: print into file*/
-            FILE *fd = fopen("debug-out.txt", "w");
-            if(!fd)
+            /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+            char *nname = set_output_path("debug-out.txt");
+            FILE *fd = fopen(nname, "w");
+            tfree(nname);
+            if (!fd)
                 fprintf(cp_err, "Could not open file debug-out.txt for writing debug info. \n");
             else {
                 struct line *t;
@@ -5707,7 +5710,16 @@ tprint(struct line *t, int numb)
     char *filename = tprintf("tprint-out%d.txt", numb);
 
     /*debug: print into file*/
-    FILE *fd = fopen(filename, "w");
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(filename);
+    FILE *fd = fopen(nname, "w");
+    tfree(nname);
+    if (!fd) {
+        fprintf(cp_err, "Could not open file debug file %s for writing debug info. \n", filename);
+        tfree(filename);
+        return;
+    }
+    tfree(filename);
     for (tmp = t; tmp; tmp = tmp->li_next)
         if (*(tmp->li_line) != '*') {
             fprintf(fd, "%6d  %6d  %s", tmp->li_linenum_orig, tmp->li_linenum, tmp->li_line);
@@ -5729,7 +5741,6 @@ tprint(struct line *t, int numb)
         if (*(tmp->li_line) != '*')
             fprintf(fd, "%s\n",tmp->li_line);
     fclose(fd);
-    tfree(filename);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/frontend/numparam/spicenum.c b/src/frontend/numparam/spicenum.c
index ed37d4429..7437e856a 100644
--- a/src/frontend/numparam/spicenum.c
+++ b/src/frontend/numparam/spicenum.c
@@ -426,8 +426,11 @@ putlogfile(char c, int num, char *t)
 
     if (!logfileS) {
         char *fname = tprintf("logfile.%d", ++nblogS);
-        logfileS = fopen(fname, "w");
+        /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+        char *nname = set_output_path(fname);
+        logfileS = fopen(nname, "w");
         tfree(fname);
+        tfree(nname);
     }
 
     if (logfileS)
diff --git a/src/frontend/plotting/gnuplot.c b/src/frontend/plotting/gnuplot.c
index c4f3eca7c..0af2151b1 100644
--- a/src/frontend/plotting/gnuplot.c
+++ b/src/frontend/plotting/gnuplot.c
@@ -124,11 +124,15 @@ ft_gnuplot(double *xlims, double *ylims, char *filename, char *title, char *xlab
         return;
     }
 
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(filename_plt);
     /* Open the output gnuplot file. */
-    if ((file = fopen(filename_plt, "w")) == NULL) {
-        perror(filename);
+    if ((file = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
+        perror(nname);
+        tfree(nname);
         return;
     }
+    tfree(nname);
 
     /* Set up the file header. */
 #if !defined(__MINGW32__) && !defined(_MSC_VER)
@@ -210,11 +214,15 @@ ft_gnuplot(double *xlims, double *ylims, char *filename, char *title, char *xlab
         strcpy(plotstyle, "lines");
     }
 
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    nname = set_output_path(filename_data);
     /* Open the output gnuplot data file. */
-    if ((file_data = fopen(filename_data, "w")) == NULL) {
-        perror(filename);
+    if ((file_data = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
+        perror(nname);
+        tfree(nname);
         return;
     }
+    tfree(nname);
     fprintf(file, "set format y \"%%g\"\n");
     fprintf(file, "set format x \"%%g\"\n");
     fprintf(file, "plot ");
@@ -357,11 +365,15 @@ ft_writesimple(double *xlims, double *ylims, char *filename, char *title, char *
             maxlen = MAX(v->v_scale->v_length, maxlen);
     }
 
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(filename);
     /* Open the output data file. */
-    if ((file_data = fopen(filename, appendwrite ? "a" : "w")) == NULL) {
-        perror(filename);
+    if ((file_data = fopen(nname, appendwrite ? "a" : "w")) == NULL) {
+        perror(nname);
+        tfree(nname);
         return;
     }
+    tfree(nname);
 
     /* If option numdgt is set, use it for printout precision. */
     if (cp_numdgt > 0)
diff --git a/src/frontend/plotting/plot5.c b/src/frontend/plotting/plot5.c
index f07b26426..068e871fc 100644
--- a/src/frontend/plotting/plot5.c
+++ b/src/frontend/plotting/plot5.c
@@ -45,11 +45,15 @@ Plt5_Init(void)
 int
 Plt5_NewViewport(GRAPH *graph)
 {
-    if ((plotfile = fopen((char*) graph->devdep, "w")) == NULL) {
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path((char*) graph->devdep);
+    if ((plotfile = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
         graph->devdep = NULL;
         perror((char*) graph->devdep);
+        tfree(nname);
         return (1);
     }
+    tfree(nname);
 
     if (graph->absolute.width) {
 
diff --git a/src/frontend/plotting/xgraph.c b/src/frontend/plotting/xgraph.c
index 216bd650b..2255e3546 100644
--- a/src/frontend/plotting/xgraph.c
+++ b/src/frontend/plotting/xgraph.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Author: 1992 David A. Gates, U. C. Berkeley CAD Group
 #include "ngspice/dvec.h"
 #include "ngspice/fteparse.h"
 #include "xgraph.h"
+#include "ngspice/fteext.h"
 
 
 #define XG_MAXVECTORS 64
@@ -80,10 +81,14 @@ ft_xgraph(double *xlims, double *ylims, char *filename, char *title, char *xlabe
     }
 
     /* Open the output file. */
-    if ((file = fopen(filename, "w")) == NULL) {
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(filename);
+    if ((file = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
         perror(filename);
+        tfree(nname);
         return;
     }
+    tfree(nname);
 
     /* Set up the file header. */
     if (title) {
diff --git a/src/frontend/postsc.c b/src/frontend/postsc.c
index 94aa27962..0fd873b40 100644
--- a/src/frontend/postsc.c
+++ b/src/frontend/postsc.c
@@ -168,11 +168,15 @@ PS_NewViewport(GRAPH *graph)
     int x1, x2, y1, y2;
     hcopygraphid = graph->graphid;
     /* devdep initially contains name of output file */
-    if ((plotfile = fopen((char*)graph->devdep, "w")) == NULL) {
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path((char*)graph->devdep);
+    if ((plotfile = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
         perror((char*)graph->devdep);
         graph->devdep = NULL;
+        tfree(nname);
         return (1);
     }
+    tfree(nname);
 
     if (graph->absolute.width) {
         /* hardcopying from the screen */
diff --git a/src/frontend/rawfile.c b/src/frontend/rawfile.c
index 6eb0993b8..a8af304e4 100644
--- a/src/frontend/rawfile.c
+++ b/src/frontend/rawfile.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ Author: 1986 Wayne A. Christopher, U. C. Berkeley CAD Group
 #include "rawfile.h"
 #include "variable.h"
 #include "../misc/misc_time.h"
+#include <sys/stat.h>
 
 
 static void fixdims(struct dvec *v, char *s);
@@ -755,10 +756,15 @@ spar_write(char *name, struct plot *pl, double Rbaseval)
          }*/
     }
 
-    if ((fp = fopen(name, "w")) == NULL) {
-        perror(name);
+    /* add user defined path (nnmae has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(name);
+
+    if ((fp = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
+        perror(nname);
+        tfree(nname);
         return;
     }
+    tfree(nname);
 
     fprintf(fp, "!2-port S-parameter file\n");
     fprintf(fp, "!Title: %s\n", pl->pl_title);
@@ -812,6 +818,9 @@ char *
 set_output_path(char *filename)
 {
     char varpath[BSIZE_SP];
+    char *ret;
+    struct stat st;
+    char *fpath, *dirloc = NULL;
 
 #if defined(__MINGW32__) || defined(_MSC_VER)
     /* If variable 'mingwpath' is set: convert mingw /d/... to d:/... */
@@ -825,11 +834,32 @@ set_output_path(char *filename)
 #endif
 
     if (is_absolute_pathname(filename))
-        return copy(filename);
+        ret = copy(filename);
     else if (cp_getvar("outputpath", CP_STRING, &varpath))
-        return tprintf("%s/%s", varpath, filename);
+        ret = tprintf("%s%c%s", varpath, DIR_TERM, filename);
     else if (Outp_Path)
-        return tprintf("%s/%s", Outp_Path, filename);
+        ret = tprintf("%s%c%s", Outp_Path, DIR_TERM, filename);
     else
-        return copy(filename);
+        ret = copy(filename);
+    /* get path string */
+    dirloc = strrchr(ret, DIR_TERM);
+#if defined(__MINGW32__) || defined(_MSC_VER)
+    if(!dirloc)
+        dirloc = strrchr(ret, DIR_TERM_LINUX);
+#endif
+    if (dirloc)
+        fpath = copy_substring(ret, dirloc);
+    else
+        fpath = copy(ret);
+    /* test if path exists */
+    if (stat(fpath, &st) == 0) {
+        tfree(fpath);
+        return ret;
+    }
+    else {
+        fprintf(cp_err, "Error: Output path %s does not exist\n", fpath);
+        tfree(ret);
+        tfree(fpath);
+        controlled_exit(1);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/frontend/runcoms.c b/src/frontend/runcoms.c
index d8cede126..3e508323c 100644
--- a/src/frontend/runcoms.c
+++ b/src/frontend/runcoms.c
@@ -261,33 +261,41 @@ dosim(
     if (dofile) {
         if (!*wl->wl_word)
             rawfileFp = stdout;
-#if defined(__MINGW32__) || defined(_MSC_VER)
         /* ask if binary or ASCII, open file with wb or w */
-        else if (ascii) {
-            if ((rawfileFp = fopen(wl->wl_word, "w")) == NULL) {
-                perror(wl->wl_word);
-                ft_setflag = FALSE;
-                return 1;
+        else {
+            /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+            char *nname = set_output_path(wl->wl_word);
+#if defined(__MINGW32__) || defined(_MSC_VER)
+            if (ascii) {
+                if ((rawfileFp = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
+                    perror(wl->wl_word);
+                    ft_setflag = FALSE;
+                    tfree(nname);
+                    return 1;
+                }
+                fprintf(cp_out, "ASCII raw file \"%s\"\n", nname);
             }
-            fprintf(cp_out, "ASCII raw file \"%s\"\n", wl->wl_word);
-        }
-        else if (!ascii) {
-            if ((rawfileFp = fopen(wl->wl_word, "wb")) == NULL) {
-                perror(wl->wl_word);
-                ft_setflag = FALSE;
-                return 1;
+            else {
+                if ((rawfileFp = fopen(nname, "wb")) == NULL) {
+                    perror(wl->wl_word);
+                    ft_setflag = FALSE;
+                    tfree(nname);
+                    return 1;
+                }
+                fprintf(cp_out, "binary raw file \"%s\"\n", nname);
             }
-            fprintf(cp_out, "binary raw file \"%s\"\n", wl->wl_word);
-        }
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 #else
-        else if (!(rawfileFp = fopen(wl->wl_word, "w"))) {
-            setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
-            perror(wl->wl_word);
-            ft_setflag = FALSE;
-            return 1;
-        }
+            if (!(rawfileFp = fopen(nname, "w"))) {
+                setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
+                perror(wl->wl_word);
+                ft_setflag = FALSE;
+                tfree(nname);
+                return 1;
+            }
 #endif /* __MINGW32__ */
+            tfree(nname);
+        }
         rawfileBinary = !ascii;
     } else {
         rawfileFp = NULL;
diff --git a/src/frontend/runcoms2.c b/src/frontend/runcoms2.c
index 91efd3e49..a9f7cbe23 100644
--- a/src/frontend/runcoms2.c
+++ b/src/frontend/runcoms2.c
@@ -106,30 +106,41 @@ com_resume(wordlist *wl)
             rawfileFp = stdout;
 #if defined(__MINGW32__) || defined(_MSC_VER)
         /* ask if binary or ASCII, open file with w or wb   hvogt 15.3.2000 */
-        else if (ascii) {
-            if ((rawfileFp = fopen(last_used_rawfile, "a")) == NULL) {
-                setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
-                perror(last_used_rawfile);
-                ft_setflag = FALSE;
-                return;
+        else {
+            /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+            char *nname = set_output_path(last_used_rawfile);
+            if (ascii) {
+                if ((rawfileFp = fopen(nname, "a")) == NULL) {
+                    setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
+                    perror(last_used_rawfile);
+                    ft_setflag = FALSE;
+                    tfree(nname);
+                    return;
+                }
             }
-        } else if (!ascii) {
-            if ((rawfileFp = fopen(last_used_rawfile, "ab")) == NULL) {
-                setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
-                perror(last_used_rawfile);
-                ft_setflag = FALSE;
-                return;
+            else {
+                if ((rawfileFp = fopen(nname, "ab")) == NULL) {
+                    setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
+                    perror(last_used_rawfile);
+                    ft_setflag = FALSE;
+                    tfree(nname);
+                    return;
+                }
             }
-        }
-        /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+            /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 #else
-        else if (!(rawfileFp = fopen(last_used_rawfile, "a"))) {
-            setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
-            perror(last_used_rawfile);
-            ft_setflag = FALSE;
-            return;
-        }
+        else {
+            char *nname = set_output_path(last_used_rawfile);
+            if (!(rawfileFp = fopen(nname, "a"))) {
+                setvbuf(rawfileFp, rawfileBuf, _IOFBF, RAWBUF_SIZE);
+                perror(last_used_rawfile);
+                ft_setflag = FALSE;
+                tfree(nname);
+                return;
+            }
 #endif
+            tfree(nname);
+        }
         rawfileBinary = !ascii;
     } else {
         rawfileFp = NULL;
diff --git a/src/frontend/spiceif.c b/src/frontend/spiceif.c
index 4eaf32f11..a406ae6ff 100644
--- a/src/frontend/spiceif.c
+++ b/src/frontend/spiceif.c
@@ -1620,9 +1620,10 @@ void com_snsave(wordlist *wl)
         fprintf(cp_err, "Only saving of tran analysis is implemented\n");
         return;
     }
-
-    file = fopen(wl->wl_word, "wb");
-
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(wl->wl_word);
+    file = fopen(nname, "wb");
+    tfree(nname);
     if (!file) {
         fprintf(cp_err,
                 "Error: Couldn't open \"%s\" for writing\n", wl->wl_word);
diff --git a/src/frontend/streams.c b/src/frontend/streams.c
index 8906fd33c..80ebe0336 100644
--- a/src/frontend/streams.c
+++ b/src/frontend/streams.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "quote.h"
 #include "ngspice/cpextern.h"
 #include "streams.h"
+#include "ngspice/fteext.h"
 
 
 bool cp_debug = FALSE;
@@ -134,9 +135,11 @@ cp_redirect(wordlist *wl)
                 fprintf(stderr, "Error: %s: file exists\n", fname);
                 goto error;
             }
-
-            fp = fopen(fname, append ? "a" : "w+");
+            /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+            char *nname = set_output_path(fname);
+            fp = fopen(nname, append ? "a" : "w+");
             tfree(fname);
+            tfree(nname);
 
             if (!fp) {
                 perror(fname);
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 707ef7799..dc8b30f47 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1039,7 +1039,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
         /* Open the log file */
 #ifdef HAS_WINGUI
         /* flogp used by winmain's putc which writes to file 'log_file' */
-        flogp = fopen(log_file, "w");
+        /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+        char *nname = set_output_path(log_file);
+        flogp = fopen(nname, "w");
+        tfree(nname);
         if (!flogp) {
             perror(log_file);
             sp_shutdown(EXIT_BAD);
@@ -1060,8 +1063,11 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 
         fprintf(stdout, "\nSOA warnings go to log-file: %s\n", soa_log_file);
 
+        /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+        char *nname = set_output_path(soa_log_file);
         /* Open the soa log file */
-        slogp = fopen(soa_log_file, "w");
+        slogp = fopen(nname, "w");
+        tfree(nname);
         if (!slogp) {
             perror(soa_log_file);
             sp_shutdown(EXIT_BAD);
@@ -1229,7 +1235,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 
             if (tempfile == NULL) {
                 tpf = smktemp("sp");
-                tempfile = fopen(tpf, "w+bTD");
+                /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+                char *nname = set_output_path(tpf);
+                tempfile = fopen(nname, "w+bTD");
+                tfree(nname);
                 if (tempfile == NULL) {
                     fprintf(stderr, "Could not open a temporary file to save and use optional arguments.");
                     sp_shutdown(EXIT_BAD);
diff --git a/src/maths/sparse/spoutput.c b/src/maths/sparse/spoutput.c
index dc0832395..d5ee6c477 100644
--- a/src/maths/sparse/spoutput.c
+++ b/src/maths/sparse/spoutput.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ int Printer_Width = PRINTER_WIDTH;
 #include "ngspice/wstdio.h"
 #endif
 
+extern char *set_output_path(char *filename);
 
 
 #if DOCUMENTATION
@@ -449,8 +450,13 @@ spFileMatrix(MatrixPtr Matrix, char *File, char *Label, int Reordered,
     assert( IS_SPARSE( Matrix ) );
 
     /* Open file matrix file in write mode. */
-    if ((pMatrixFile = fopen(File, "w")) == NULL)
+    /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+    char *nname = set_output_path(File);
+    if ((pMatrixFile = fopen(nname, "w")) == NULL) {
+        SP_FREE(nname);
         return 0;
+    }
+    SP_FREE(nname);
 
     /* Output header. */
     Size = Matrix->Size;
@@ -604,10 +610,13 @@ spFileVector(MatrixPtr Matrix, char *File, RealVector RHS, RealVector iRHS)
     assert( IS_SPARSE( Matrix ) && RHS != NULL);
 
     if (File) {
+        /* add user defined path (nname has to be freed after usage) */
+        char *nname = set_output_path(File);
         /* Open File in append mode. */
-        pMatrixFile = fopen(File,"a");
+        pMatrixFile = fopen(nname,"a");
+        SP_FREE(nname);
         if (pMatrixFile == NULL)
-	    return 0;
+            return 0;
     }
     else 
         pMatrixFile=stdout;