diff --git a/Fonderie/fonderie.c b/Fonderie/fonderie.c
index 7b431362..bb516606 100644
--- a/Fonderie/fonderie.c
+++ b/Fonderie/fonderie.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include  <glob.h>
 #include  "../floatimg.h"
 
+#include  "utilfuncs.h"
 #include  "fifo.h"
 #include  "glitches.h"
 #include  "crapulator.h"
@@ -190,6 +191,8 @@ puts("\t-O\toutput directory (default p8/)");
 puts("\t-T\tfifo size");
 puts("\t-v\tincrease verbosity");
 
+if (verbosity) { puts(""); fimg_print_version(2); puts(""); }
+
 exit(0);
 }
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -206,7 +209,6 @@ char		*OutFchain = "none";
 
 fprintf(stderr, "*** %s\n\tcompiled %s, %s, pid %d\n",
 			argv[0], __DATE__, __TIME__, getpid());
-if (verbosity) fimg_print_version(2);
 
 while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv, "B:E:F:ghI:LO:T:vw:x:")) != -1) {
 	switch(opt) {
@@ -240,6 +242,15 @@ if (verbosity) {
 	fprintf(stderr, "\tout filter        '%s'\n", OutFchain);
 	fprintf(stderr, "\tfifo size         %d\n",   fifosize);
 	}
+/*
+ *	check for the export directory
+ */
+foo = check_if_export_dir_is_valid(out_dir, 0);
+if ( !foo ) {
+	fprintf(stderr, "** export dir (%s) not valid\n", out_dir);
+	fprintf(stderr, "** may be you have to create it ?\n");
+	exit(1);
+	}
 
 foo = parse_filter_chain(0, InFchain);
 if (foo) {
diff --git a/floatimg.h b/floatimg.h
index a4732f29..853a330b 100644
--- a/floatimg.h
+++ b/floatimg.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
  *	https://git.tetalab.org/tTh/FloatImg
  */
 
-#define		FIMG_VERSION	(243)
+#define		FIMG_VERSION	(245)
 #define		RELEASE_NAME	("noname")
 #define		PATCH_LEVEL	("aaaa")