diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index b3a4c11..74424a0 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -611,6 +611,7 @@ class ABC3D_OT_InstallFont(bpy.types.Operator):
     install_in_assets: bpy.props.BoolProperty(
             name="install in assets",
             description="install the font in the assets directory of the addon",
+            default=True,
             )
 
     load_into_memory: bpy.props.BoolProperty(name="load font data into memory",
@@ -651,6 +652,7 @@ class ABC3D_OT_InstallFont(bpy.types.Operator):
             target = os.path.join(preferences.assets_dir, "fonts", filename)
             print(f"installing {scene.abc3d.font_path} -> {target}")
             import shutil
+            os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(target), exist_ok=True)
             shutil.copyfile(scene.abc3d.font_path, target)
             # def register_load(target, load=False):
                 # print(f"registering installed fonts")
diff --git a/butils.py b/butils.py
index 7e4fe10..431bc43 100644
--- a/butils.py
+++ b/butils.py
@@ -507,27 +507,29 @@ def clear_available_fonts():
 def load_installed_fonts():
     preferences = getPreferences(bpy.context)
     font_dir = os.path.join(preferences.assets_dir,"fonts")
-    for file in os.listdir(font_dir):
-        if file.endswith(".glb") or file.endswith(".gltf"):
-            font_path = os.path.join(font_dir, file)
-            # ShowMessageBox("Loading Font", "INFO", f"loading font from {font_path}")
-            # print(f"loading font from {font_path}")
-            # for f in bpy.context.scene.abc3d_data.available_fonts.values():
-                # print(f"available font: {f.font_name} {f.face_name}")
-            register_font_from_filepath(font_path)
-            load_font_from_filepath(font_path)
+    if os.path.exists(font_dir):
+        for file in os.listdir(font_dir):
+            if file.endswith(".glb") or file.endswith(".gltf"):
+                font_path = os.path.join(font_dir, file)
+                # ShowMessageBox("Loading Font", "INFO", f"loading font from {font_path}")
+                # print(f"loading font from {font_path}")
+                # for f in bpy.context.scene.abc3d_data.available_fonts.values():
+                    # print(f"available font: {f.font_name} {f.face_name}")
+                register_font_from_filepath(font_path)
+                load_font_from_filepath(font_path)
 
 def register_installed_fonts():
     preferences = getPreferences(bpy.context)
     font_dir = os.path.join(preferences.assets_dir,"fonts")
-    for file in os.listdir(font_dir):
-        if file.endswith(".glb") or file.endswith(".gltf"):
-            font_path = os.path.join(font_dir, file)
-            # ShowMessageBox("Loading Font", "INFO", f"loading font from {font_path}")
-            # print(f"loading font from {font_path}")
-            # for f in bpy.context.scene.abc3d_data.available_fonts.values():
-                # print(f"available font: {f.font_name} {f.face_name}")
-            register_font_from_filepath(font_path)
+    if os.path.exists(font_dir):
+        for file in os.listdir(font_dir):
+            if file.endswith(".glb") or file.endswith(".gltf"):
+                font_path = os.path.join(font_dir, file)
+                # ShowMessageBox("Loading Font", "INFO", f"loading font from {font_path}")
+                # print(f"loading font from {font_path}")
+                # for f in bpy.context.scene.abc3d_data.available_fonts.values():
+                    # print(f"available font: {f.font_name} {f.face_name}")
+                register_font_from_filepath(font_path)
 
 def ShowMessageBox(title = "Message Box", icon = 'INFO', message=""):