diff --git a/keymapper/config.py b/keymapper/config.py
index 1c8de78d..17e1e470 100644
--- a/keymapper/config.py
+++ b/keymapper/config.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import json
 import shutil
 import copy
 
-from keymapper.paths import CONFIG
+from keymapper.paths import CONFIG, touch
 from keymapper.logger import logger
 
 
@@ -98,10 +98,7 @@ class _Config:
 
     def save_config(self):
         """Save the config to the file system."""
-        if not os.path.exists(CONFIG_PATH):
-            logger.debug('Creating "%s"', CONFIG_PATH)
-            os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(CONFIG_PATH), exist_ok=True)
-            os.mknod(CONFIG_PATH)
+        touch(CONFIG_PATH)
 
         with open(CONFIG_PATH, 'w') as file:
             json.dump(self._config, file, indent=4)
diff --git a/keymapper/logger.py b/keymapper/logger.py
index 234b83b5..0a8d0045 100644
--- a/keymapper/logger.py
+++ b/keymapper/logger.py
@@ -113,8 +113,7 @@ def add_filehandler(path='~/.log/key-mapper'):
     log_path = os.path.expanduser(path)
     log_file = os.path.join(log_path, 'log')
 
-    if not os.path.exists(log_path):
-        os.makedirs(log_path)
+    os.makedirs(log_path, exist_ok=True)
 
     if os.path.exists(log_file):
         # keep the log path small, start from scratch each time
diff --git a/keymapper/mapping.py b/keymapper/mapping.py
index 7cf0be11..60d4ff9a 100644
--- a/keymapper/mapping.py
+++ b/keymapper/mapping.py
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@
 
 import os
 import json
-import shutil
 import copy
 
 from keymapper.logger import logger
-from keymapper.paths import get_config_path
+from keymapper.paths import get_config_path, touch
 
 
 def keep_reverse_mapping_intact(func):
@@ -171,12 +170,7 @@ class Mapping:
         path = get_config_path(device, preset)
         logger.info('Saving preset to %s', path)
 
-        if not os.path.exists(path):
-            logger.debug('Creating "%s"', path)
-            os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
-            os.mknod(path)
-            # if this is done with sudo rights, give the file to the user
-            shutil.chown(path, os.getlogin(), os.getlogin())
+        touch(path)
 
         with open(path, 'w') as file:
             # make sure to keep the option to add metadata if ever needed,
diff --git a/keymapper/paths.py b/keymapper/paths.py
index f157d483..6c0edd5b 100644
--- a/keymapper/paths.py
+++ b/keymapper/paths.py
@@ -23,11 +23,45 @@
 
 
 import os
+import shutil
+
+from keymapper.logger import logger
 
 
 CONFIG = os.path.join('/home', os.getlogin(), '.config/key-mapper')
 
 
+def touch(path, log=True):
+    """Create an empty file and all its parent dirs, give it to the user."""
+    if os.path.exists(path):
+        return
+
+    if log:
+        logger.info('Creating file "%s"', path)
+
+    mkdir(os.path.dirname(path), log=False)
+
+    os.mknod(path)
+    shutil.chown(path, os.getlogin(), os.getlogin())
+
+
+def mkdir(path, log=True):
+    """Create a folder, give it to the user."""
+    if os.path.exists(path):
+        return
+
+    if log:
+        logger.info('Creating dir "%s"', path)
+
+    # give all newly created folders to the user.
+    # e.g. if .config/key-mapper/mouse/ is created the latter two
+    base = os.path.split(path)[0]
+    mkdir(base, log=False)
+
+    os.makedirs(path)
+    shutil.chown(path, os.getlogin(), os.getlogin())
+
+
 def get_config_path(device=None, preset=None):
     """Get a path to the stored preset, or to store a preset to."""
     if device is None:
diff --git a/keymapper/presets.py b/keymapper/presets.py
index 3b165e00..3f51f51b 100644
--- a/keymapper/presets.py
+++ b/keymapper/presets.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import os
 import time
 import glob
 
-from keymapper.paths import get_config_path
+from keymapper.paths import get_config_path, mkdir
 from keymapper.logger import logger
 from keymapper.getdevices import get_devices
 
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ def get_presets(device):
     device : string
     """
     device_folder = get_config_path(device)
-    if not os.path.exists(device_folder):
-        os.makedirs(device_folder)
+    mkdir(device_folder)
 
     paths = glob.glob(os.path.join(device_folder, '*.json'))
     presets = [