diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index 30306f80..142d2bf1 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -29,11 +29,21 @@ class KeyValueConfigBase
 {
 public:
     bool save();
-    void load();
-    virtual ~KeyValueConfigBase();
+    bool load(const QString &dir = QString());
+
+    void setRoot(const QString &dir);
+    QString root() const { return m_root; }
+    QString filepath() const { return m_filepath; }
+    QString filename() const { return m_filename; }
+
+    explicit KeyValueConfigBase(const QString &filename)
+        : m_root(QString()),
+          m_filename(filename),
+          m_filepath(filename)
+    { };
+    virtual ~KeyValueConfigBase() {};
     virtual void reset() = 0;
 protected:
-    virtual QString getConfigFilepath() = 0;
     virtual void parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) = 0;
     virtual QMap<QString, QString> getKeyValueMap() = 0;
     virtual void init() = 0;
@@ -43,14 +53,16 @@ protected:
     static int getConfigInteger(const QString &key, const QString &value, int min = INT_MIN, int max = INT_MAX, int defaultValue = 0);
     static uint32_t getConfigUint32(const QString &key, const QString &value, uint32_t min = 0, uint32_t max = UINT_MAX, uint32_t defaultValue = 0);
     static QColor getConfigColor(const QString &key, const QString &value, const QColor &defaultValue = Qt::black);
+
+    QString m_root;
+    QString m_filename;
+    QString m_filepath;
 };
 
 class PorymapConfig: public KeyValueConfigBase
 {
 public:
-    PorymapConfig() {
-        reset();
-    }
+    PorymapConfig();
     virtual void reset() override {
         this->recentProjects.clear();
         this->projectManuallyClosed = false;
@@ -167,7 +179,6 @@ public:
     std::set<LogType> statusBarLogTypes;
 
 protected:
-    virtual QString getConfigFilepath() override;
     virtual void parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) override;
     virtual QMap<QString, QString> getKeyValueMap() override;
     virtual void init() override {};
@@ -318,9 +329,7 @@ enum ProjectFilePath {
 class ProjectConfig: public KeyValueConfigBase
 {
 public:
-    ProjectConfig() {
-        reset();
-    }
+    ProjectConfig();
     virtual void reset() override {
         this->baseGameVersion = BaseGameVersion::pokeemerald;
         // Reset non-version-specific settings
@@ -365,6 +374,7 @@ public:
     static QString getPlayerIconPath(BaseGameVersion baseGameVersion, int character);
     static QIcon getPlayerIcon(BaseGameVersion baseGameVersion, int character);
 
+    QString projectDir() const { return m_root; } // Alias for root()
     void reset(BaseGameVersion baseGameVersion);
     void setFilePath(ProjectFilePath pathId, const QString &path);
     void setFilePath(const QString &pathId, const QString &path);
@@ -387,7 +397,6 @@ public:
     QMap<QString, QString> getPokemonIconPaths();
 
     BaseGameVersion baseGameVersion;
-    QString projectDir;
     bool usePoryScript;
     bool useCustomBorderSize;
     bool eventWeatherTriggerEnabled;
@@ -435,7 +444,6 @@ public:
     QMap<QString,QString> globalConstants;
 
 protected:
-    virtual QString getConfigFilepath() override;
     virtual void parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) override;
     virtual QMap<QString, QString> getKeyValueMap() override;
     virtual void init() override;
@@ -454,27 +462,25 @@ extern ProjectConfig projectConfig;
 class UserConfig: public KeyValueConfigBase
 {
 public:
-    UserConfig() {
-        reset();
-    }
+    UserConfig();
     virtual void reset() override {
         this->recentMapOrLayout = QString();
         this->useEncounterJson = true;
         this->customScripts.clear();
         this->readKeys.clear();
     }
+
+    QString projectDir() const { return m_root; } // Alias for root()
     void parseCustomScripts(QString input);
     QString outputCustomScripts();
     void setCustomScripts(QStringList scripts, QList<bool> enabled);
     QStringList getCustomScriptPaths();
     QList<bool> getCustomScriptsEnabled();
 
-    QString projectDir;
     QString recentMapOrLayout;
     bool useEncounterJson;
 
 protected:
-    virtual QString getConfigFilepath() override;
     virtual void parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) override;
     virtual QMap<QString, QString> getKeyValueMap() override;
     virtual void init() override;
@@ -496,10 +502,7 @@ class Shortcut;
 class ShortcutsConfig : public KeyValueConfigBase
 {
 public:
-    ShortcutsConfig() :
-        user_shortcuts({ }),
-        default_shortcuts({ })
-    { }
+    ShortcutsConfig();
 
     virtual void reset() override { user_shortcuts.clear(); }
 
@@ -512,7 +515,6 @@ public:
     QList<QKeySequence> userShortcuts(const QObject *object) const;
 
 protected:
-    virtual QString getConfigFilepath() override;
     virtual void parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) override;
     virtual QMap<QString, QString> getKeyValueMap() override;
     virtual void init() override { };
diff --git a/include/mainwindow.h b/include/mainwindow.h
index 73408817..3b3003aa 100644
--- a/include/mainwindow.h
+++ b/include/mainwindow.h
@@ -386,7 +386,6 @@ private:
     void scrollMapListToCurrentLayout(MapTree *list);
     void scrollCurrentMapListToItem(const QString &itemName);
     void showFileWatcherWarning();
-    QString getExistingDirectory(QString);
     bool openProject(QString dir, bool initial = false);
     bool closeProject();
     void showRecentError(const QString &baseMessage);
diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
index ffc46f0a..766a20e4 100644
--- a/src/config.cpp
+++ b/src/config.cpp
@@ -203,17 +203,26 @@ ProjectFilePath reverseDefaultPaths(QString str) {
     return static_cast<ProjectFilePath>(-1);
 }
 
-KeyValueConfigBase::~KeyValueConfigBase() {
-
+void KeyValueConfigBase::setRoot(const QString &root) {
+    m_root = root;
+    QDir dir(m_root);
+    if (!m_root.isEmpty() && !dir.exists()) {
+        dir.mkpath(m_root);
+    }
+    m_filepath = dir.absoluteFilePath(m_filename);
 }
 
-void KeyValueConfigBase::load() {
+bool KeyValueConfigBase::load(const QString &root) {
+    if (!root.isEmpty()) {
+        setRoot(root);
+    }
     reset();
-    QFile file(this->getConfigFilepath());
-    if (!file.exists()) {
+    QFile file(this->filepath());
+    if (file.exists() && !file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly)) {
+        logError(QString("Could not open config file '%1': ").arg(this->filepath()) + file.errorString());
+        return false;
+    } else if (file.size() == 0) {
         this->init();
-    } else if (!file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly)) {
-        logError(QString("Could not open config file '%1': ").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()) + file.errorString());
     }
 
     QTextStream in(&file);
@@ -231,7 +240,7 @@ void KeyValueConfigBase::load() {
 
         QRegularExpressionMatch match = re.match(line);
         if (!match.hasMatch()) {
-            logWarn(QString("Invalid config line in %1: '%2'").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()).arg(line));
+            logWarn(QString("Invalid config line in %1: '%2'").arg(this->filepath()).arg(line));
             continue;
         }
 
@@ -240,6 +249,7 @@ void KeyValueConfigBase::load() {
     this->setUnreadKeys();
 
     file.close();
+    return true;
 }
 
 bool KeyValueConfigBase::save() {
@@ -249,9 +259,9 @@ bool KeyValueConfigBase::save() {
         text += QString("%1=%2\n").arg(it.key()).arg(it.value());
     }
 
-    QFile file(this->getConfigFilepath());
+    QFile file(this->filepath());
     if (!file.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly)) {
-        logError(QString("Could not open config file '%1' for writing: ").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()) + file.errorString());
+        logError(QString("Could not open config file '%1' for writing: ").arg(this->filepath()) + file.errorString());
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -300,16 +310,9 @@ QColor KeyValueConfigBase::getConfigColor(const QString &key, const QString &val
 
 PorymapConfig porymapConfig;
 
-QString PorymapConfig::getConfigFilepath() {
-    // porymap config file is in the same directory as porymap itself.
-    QString settingsPath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation);
-    QDir dir(settingsPath);
-    if (!dir.exists())
-        dir.mkpath(settingsPath);
-
-    QString configPath = dir.absoluteFilePath("porymap.cfg");
-
-    return configPath;
+PorymapConfig::PorymapConfig() : KeyValueConfigBase(QStringLiteral("porymap.cfg")) {
+    reset();
+    setRoot(QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation));
 }
 
 void PorymapConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
@@ -330,7 +333,7 @@ void PorymapConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
         bool ok;
         int tab = key.mid(QStringLiteral("map_list_hide_empty_enabled/").length()).toInt(&ok, 0);
         if (!ok) {
-            logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()).arg(key));
+            logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->filepath()).arg(key));
             return;
         }
         this->mapListHideEmptyEnabled.insert(tab, getConfigBool(key, value));
@@ -485,7 +488,7 @@ void PorymapConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
             this->statusBarLogTypes.insert(type);
         }
     } else {
-        logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()).arg(key));
+        logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->filepath()).arg(key));
     }
 }
 
@@ -773,9 +776,8 @@ QIcon ProjectConfig::getPlayerIcon(BaseGameVersion baseGameVersion, int characte
 
 ProjectConfig projectConfig;
 
-QString ProjectConfig::getConfigFilepath() {
-    // porymap config file is in the same directory as porymap itself.
-    return QDir(this->projectDir).filePath("porymap.project.cfg");
+ProjectConfig::ProjectConfig() : KeyValueConfigBase(QStringLiteral("porymap.project.cfg")) {
+    reset();
 }
 
 void ProjectConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
@@ -871,14 +873,14 @@ void ProjectConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
         if (k != static_cast<ProjectFilePath>(-1)) {
             this->setFilePath(k, value);
         } else {
-            logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()).arg(key));
+            logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->filepath()).arg(key));
         }
     } else if (key.startsWith("ident/")) {
         auto identifierId = reverseDefaultIdentifier(key.mid(QStringLiteral("ident/").length()));
         if (identifierId != static_cast<ProjectIdentifier>(-1)) {
             this->setIdentifier(identifierId, value);
         } else {
-            logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()).arg(key));
+            logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->filepath()).arg(key));
         }
     } else if (key.startsWith("global_constant/")) {
         this->globalConstants.insert(key.mid(QStringLiteral("global_constant/").length()), value);
@@ -935,7 +937,7 @@ void ProjectConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
     } else if (key == "forced_major_version") {
         this->forcedMajorVersion = getConfigInteger(key, value);
     } else {
-        logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()).arg(key));
+        logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->filepath()).arg(key));
     }
     readKeys.append(key);
 }
@@ -1048,7 +1050,7 @@ QMap<QString, QString> ProjectConfig::getKeyValueMap() {
 }
 
 void ProjectConfig::init() {
-    QString dirName = QDir(this->projectDir).dirName().toLower();
+    QString dirName = QDir(this->projectDir()).dirName().toLower();
 
     BaseGameVersion version = stringToBaseGameVersion(dirName);
     if (version != BaseGameVersion::none) {
@@ -1107,7 +1109,7 @@ QString ProjectConfig::getFilePath(ProjectFilePath pathId) {
     QString customPath = this->getCustomFilePath(pathId);
     if (!customPath.isEmpty()) {
         // A custom filepath has been specified. If the file/folder exists, use that.
-        const QString baseDir = this->projectDir + "/";
+        const QString baseDir = this->projectDir() + "/";
         if (customPath.startsWith(baseDir)) {
             customPath.remove(0, baseDir.length());
         }
@@ -1201,9 +1203,8 @@ QMap<QString, QString> ProjectConfig::getPokemonIconPaths() {
 
 UserConfig userConfig;
 
-QString UserConfig::getConfigFilepath() {
-    // porymap config file is in the same directory as porymap itself.
-    return QDir(this->projectDir).filePath("porymap.user.cfg");
+UserConfig::UserConfig() : KeyValueConfigBase(QStringLiteral("porymap.user.cfg")) {
+    reset();
 }
 
 void UserConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
@@ -1214,7 +1215,7 @@ void UserConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
     } else if (key == "custom_scripts") {
         this->parseCustomScripts(value);
     } else {
-        logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->getConfigFilepath()).arg(key));
+        logWarn(QString("Invalid config key found in config file %1: '%2'").arg(this->filepath()).arg(key));
     }
     readKeys.append(key);
 }
@@ -1283,15 +1284,10 @@ QList<bool> UserConfig::getCustomScriptsEnabled() {
 
 ShortcutsConfig shortcutsConfig;
 
-QString ShortcutsConfig::getConfigFilepath() {
-    QString settingsPath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation);
-    QDir dir(settingsPath);
-    if (!dir.exists())
-        dir.mkpath(settingsPath);
-
-    QString configPath = dir.absoluteFilePath("porymap.shortcuts.cfg");
-
-    return configPath;
+ShortcutsConfig::ShortcutsConfig() : KeyValueConfigBase(QStringLiteral("porymap.shortcuts.cfg")),
+    user_shortcuts({ }),
+    default_shortcuts({ }) {
+    setRoot(QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation));
 }
 
 void ShortcutsConfig::parseConfigKeyValue(QString key, QString value) {
diff --git a/src/core/map.cpp b/src/core/map.cpp
index 7754948f..e69068f3 100644
--- a/src/core/map.cpp
+++ b/src/core/map.cpp
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ QStringList Map::getScriptLabels(Event::Group group) {
 QString Map::getScriptsFilepath() const {
     const bool usePoryscript = projectConfig.usePoryScript;
     auto path = QDir::cleanPath(QString("%1/%2/%3/scripts")
-                                        .arg(projectConfig.projectDir)
+                                        .arg(projectConfig.projectDir())
                                         .arg(projectConfig.getFilePath(ProjectFilePath::data_map_folders))
                                         .arg(!m_sharedScriptsMap.isEmpty() ? m_sharedScriptsMap : m_name));
     auto extension = Project::getScriptFileExtension(usePoryscript);
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ QString Map::getScriptsFilepath() const {
 
 QString Map::getJsonFilepath(const QString &mapName) {
     return QDir::cleanPath(QString("%1/%2/%3/map.json")
-                                        .arg(projectConfig.projectDir)
+                                        .arg(projectConfig.projectDir())
                                         .arg(projectConfig.getFilePath(ProjectFilePath::data_map_folders))
                                         .arg(mapName));
 }
diff --git a/src/editor.cpp b/src/editor.cpp
index 6de4895f..3a12838e 100644
--- a/src/editor.cpp
+++ b/src/editor.cpp
@@ -2339,7 +2339,7 @@ void Editor::openMapJson(const QString &mapName) const {
 }
 
 void Editor::openLayoutJson(const QString &layoutId) const {
-    QString path = QDir::cleanPath(QString("%1/%2").arg(projectConfig.projectDir).arg(projectConfig.getFilePath(ProjectFilePath::json_layouts)));
+    QString path = QDir::cleanPath(QString("%1/%2").arg(projectConfig.projectDir()).arg(projectConfig.getFilePath(ProjectFilePath::json_layouts)));
     QString idField = QString("\"id\": \"%1\",").arg(layoutId);
     openInTextEditor(path, ParseUtil::getJsonLineNumber(path, idField));
 }
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.cpp b/src/mainwindow.cpp
index 027602c5..8d2cef6f 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -728,10 +728,11 @@ bool MainWindow::openProject(QString dir, bool initial) {
     porysplash->start();
 
     porysplash->showLoadingMessage("config");
-    userConfig.projectDir = dir;
-    userConfig.load();
-    projectConfig.projectDir = dir;
-    projectConfig.load();
+    if (!projectConfig.load(dir) || !userConfig.load(dir)) {
+        showProjectOpenFailure();
+        porysplash->stop();
+        return false;
+    }
 
     porysplash->showLoadingMessage("custom scripts");
     Scripting::init(this);
@@ -992,13 +993,8 @@ void MainWindow::showFileWatcherWarning() {
     this->fileWatcherWarning->exec();
 }
 
-QString MainWindow::getExistingDirectory(QString dir) {
-    return FileDialog::getExistingDirectory(this, "Open Directory", dir, QFileDialog::ShowDirsOnly);
-}
-
-void MainWindow::on_action_Open_Project_triggered()
-{
-    QString dir = getExistingDirectory(!projectConfig.projectDir.isEmpty() ? userConfig.projectDir : ".");
+void MainWindow::on_action_Open_Project_triggered() {
+    QString dir = FileDialog::getExistingDirectory(this, QStringLiteral("Choose Project Folder"));
     if (!dir.isEmpty())
         openProject(dir);
 }
@@ -3010,7 +3006,7 @@ void MainWindow::reloadScriptEngine() {
     Scripting::init(this);
     Scripting::populateGlobalObject(this);
     // Lying to the scripts here, simulating a project reload
-    Scripting::cb_ProjectOpened(projectConfig.projectDir);
+    Scripting::cb_ProjectOpened(projectConfig.projectDir());
     if (this->editor) {
         if (this->editor->layout)
             Scripting::cb_LayoutOpened(this->editor->layout->name);
diff --git a/src/project.cpp b/src/project.cpp
index 28634dde..eada0202 100644
--- a/src/project.cpp
+++ b/src/project.cpp
@@ -3375,7 +3375,7 @@ QString Project::getExistingFilepath(QString filepath) {
     if (filepath.isEmpty() || QFile::exists(filepath))
         return filepath;
 
-    filepath = QDir::cleanPath(projectConfig.projectDir + QDir::separator() + filepath);
+    filepath = QDir::cleanPath(projectConfig.projectDir() + QDir::separator() + filepath);
     if (QFile::exists(filepath))
         return filepath;
 
diff --git a/src/ui/customscriptseditor.cpp b/src/ui/customscriptseditor.cpp
index 7cc89a14..43becad9 100644
--- a/src/ui/customscriptseditor.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/customscriptseditor.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 CustomScriptsEditor::CustomScriptsEditor(QWidget *parent) :
     QMainWindow(parent),
     ui(new Ui::CustomScriptsEditor),
-    baseDir(userConfig.projectDir + "/")
+    baseDir(userConfig.projectDir() + "/")
 {
     ui->setupUi(this);
     setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);
diff --git a/src/ui/prefab.cpp b/src/ui/prefab.cpp
index b1f39679..32a6c86a 100644
--- a/src/ui/prefab.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/prefab.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ void Prefab::savePrefabs() {
 
     QFileInfo info(filepath);
     if (info.isRelative()) {
-        filepath = QDir::cleanPath(projectConfig.projectDir + QDir::separator() + filepath);
+        filepath = QDir::cleanPath(projectConfig.projectDir() + QDir::separator() + filepath);
     }
     QFile prefabsFile(filepath);
     if (!prefabsFile.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly)) {
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ bool Prefab::tryImportDefaultPrefabs(QWidget * parent, BaseGameVersion version,
     if (fileInfo.suffix().isEmpty())
         filepath += ".json";
     if (fileInfo.isRelative()) {
-        absFilepath = QDir::cleanPath(projectConfig.projectDir + QDir::separator() + filepath);
+        absFilepath = QDir::cleanPath(projectConfig.projectDir() + QDir::separator() + filepath);
     } else {
         absFilepath = filepath;
     }
diff --git a/src/ui/projectsettingseditor.cpp b/src/ui/projectsettingseditor.cpp
index fa2d3ee2..ce91b2b3 100644
--- a/src/ui/projectsettingseditor.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/projectsettingseditor.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ ProjectSettingsEditor::ProjectSettingsEditor(QWidget *parent, Project *project)
     QMainWindow(parent),
     ui(new Ui::ProjectSettingsEditor),
     project(project),
-    baseDir(projectConfig.projectDir + "/")
+    baseDir(projectConfig.projectDir() + "/")
 {
     ui->setupUi(this);
     setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);