--- src/net/sf/freecol/common/logging/DefaultHandler.java
+++ src/net/sf/freecol/common/logging/DefaultHandler.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
     public static final String REVISION = "$Revision: 1.1 $";
 
-    private static final String fileName = new String("FreeCol.log");
+    private static final String fileName = new String(System.getProperty("user.home") + "/.freecol/FreeCol.log");
 
     private FileWriter fileWriter;
 
--- src/net/sf/freecol/FreeCol.java
+++ src/net/sf/freecol/FreeCol.java
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@
     private static void createAndSetDirectories() {
         // TODO: The location of the save directory should be determined by the installer.;
         
-        File mainUserDirectory = new File(System.getProperty("user.home"), "freecol");
+        File mainUserDirectory = new File(System.getProperty("user.home"), ".freecol");
         if (mainUserDirectory.exists() && mainUserDirectory.isFile()) {
             logger.warning("Could not create .freecol under "
                     + System.getProperty("user.home") + " because there "