diff --git a/src/renderer/controllers/prefs-controller.js b/src/renderer/controllers/prefs-controller.js
index d220c2b1..97171c8a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/controllers/prefs-controller.js
+++ b/src/renderer/controllers/prefs-controller.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const State = require('../lib/state')
+const {dispatch} = require('../lib/dispatcher')
 const ipcRenderer = require('electron').ipcRenderer
 
 // Controls the Preferences screen
@@ -50,5 +51,6 @@ module.exports = class PrefsController {
     }
     state.saved.prefs = Object.assign(state.saved.prefs || {}, state.unsaved.prefs)
     State.save(state)
+    dispatch('checkDownloadPath')
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/main.js b/src/renderer/main.js
index 181a7e63..bfb1c4f0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/main.js
+++ b/src/renderer/main.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const dragDrop = require('drag-drop')
 const electron = require('electron')
 const React = require('react')
 const ReactDOM = require('react-dom')
+const fs = require('fs')
 
 const config = require('../config')
 const App = require('./views/app')
@@ -74,6 +75,12 @@ function onState (err, _state) {
     }
   })
 
+  // Calling update() updates the UI given the current state
+  // Do this at least once a second to give every file in every torrentSummary
+  // a progress bar and to keep the cursor in sync when playing a video
+  setInterval(update, 1000)
+  app = ReactDOM.render(<App state={state} />, document.querySelector('#body'))
+
   // Restart everything we were torrenting last time the app ran
   resumeTorrents()
 
@@ -83,11 +90,8 @@ function onState (err, _state) {
   // Listen for messages from the main process
   setupIpc()
 
-  // Calling update() updates the UI given the current state
-  // Do this at least once a second to give every file in every torrentSummary
-  // a progress bar and to keep the cursor in sync when playing a video
-  setInterval(update, 1000)
-  app = ReactDOM.render(<App state={state} />, document.querySelector('#body'))
+  // Warn if the download dir is gone, eg b/c an external drive is unplugged
+  checkDownloadPath()
 
   // OS integrations:
   // ...drag and drop files/text to start torrenting or seeding
@@ -212,6 +216,7 @@ const dispatchHandlers = {
   // Preferences screen
   'preferences': () => controllers.prefs.show(),
   'updatePreferences': (key, value) => controllers.prefs.update(key, value),
+  'checkDownloadPath': checkDownloadPath,
 
   // Update (check for new versions on Linux, where there's no auto updater)
   'updateAvailable': (version) => controllers.update.updateAvailable(version),
@@ -433,3 +438,15 @@ function onFullscreenChanged (e, isFullScreen) {
 
   update()
 }
+
+function checkDownloadPath () {
+  state.downloadPathStatus = undefined
+  fs.stat(state.saved.prefs.downloadPath, function (err, stat) {
+    if (err) {
+      state.downloadPathStatus = 'missing'
+      return console.error(err)
+    }
+    if (stat.isDirectory()) state.downloadPathStatus = 'ok'
+    else state.downloadPathStatus = 'missing'
+  })
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/views/preferences.js b/src/renderer/views/preferences.js
index a751e0d8..c4d2feba 100644
--- a/src/renderer/views/preferences.js
+++ b/src/renderer/views/preferences.js
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ function renderGeneralSection (state) {
     description: '',
     icon: 'settings'
   }, [
-    renderDownloadDirSelector(state),
+    renderDownloadPathSelector(state),
     renderFileHandlers(state)
   ])
 }
 
-function renderDownloadDirSelector (state) {
+function renderDownloadPathSelector (state) {
   return renderFileSelector({
     key: 'download-path',
     label: 'Download Path',
diff --git a/src/renderer/views/torrent-list.js b/src/renderer/views/torrent-list.js
index 4b85d2dd..a4849906 100644
--- a/src/renderer/views/torrent-list.js
+++ b/src/renderer/views/torrent-list.js
@@ -8,16 +8,36 @@ const {dispatcher} = require('../lib/dispatcher')
 module.exports = class TorrentList extends React.Component {
   render () {
     var state = this.props.state
-    var torrentRows = state.saved.torrents.map(
-      (torrentSummary) => this.renderTorrent(torrentSummary)
-    )
 
-    return (
-      <div key='torrent-list' className='torrent-list'>
-        {torrentRows}
+    var contents
+    if (!state.downloadPathStatus) {
+      contents = ''
+    } else if (state.downloadPathStatus === 'missing') {
+      contents = (
+        <div>
+          <p>Download path missing: {state.saved.prefs.downloadPath}</p>
+          <p>Check that all drives are connected?</p>
+          <p>Alternatively, choose a new download path in
+            <a href='#' onClick={dispatcher('preferences')}>Preferences</a>
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      )
+    } else if (state.downloadPathStatus === 'ok') {
+      contents = state.saved.torrents.map(
+        (torrentSummary) => this.renderTorrent(torrentSummary)
+      )
+      contents.push(
         <div key='torrent-placeholder' className='torrent-placeholder'>
           <span className='ellipsis'>Drop a torrent file here or paste a magnet link</span>
         </div>
+      )
+    } else {
+      throw new Error('Unhandled downloadPathStatus ' + state.downloadPathStatus)
+    }
+
+    return (
+      <div key='torrent-list' className='torrent-list'>
+        {contents}
       </div>
     )
   }
diff --git a/static/main.css b/static/main.css
index d56c9838..902c4c4e 100644
--- a/static/main.css
+++ b/static/main.css
@@ -551,6 +551,13 @@ input[type='text'] {
   line-height: 1.5em;
 }
 
+/*
+ * TORRENT LIST: ERRORS
+ */
+.torrent-list p {
+  padding: 5px 20px;
+}
+
 /*
  * TORRENT LIST: DRAG-DROP TARGET
  */