diff --git a/bin/cheat b/bin/cheat
index 65dada2..c1ff5a6 100755
--- a/bin/cheat
+++ b/bin/cheat
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ from docopt import docopt
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     # parse the command-line options
-    options = docopt(__doc__, version='cheat 2.0.0')
+    options = docopt(__doc__, version='cheat 2.0.1')
 
     # list directories
     if options['--directories']:
diff --git a/cheat/sheets.py b/cheat/sheets.py
index 82cdb3d..bbcc373 100644
--- a/cheat/sheets.py
+++ b/cheat/sheets.py
@@ -12,7 +12,27 @@ def default_path():
     if os.geteuid() == 0:
         die('Please do not run this application as root.');
 
-    return os.environ.get('DEFAULT_CHEAT_DIR') or os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.cheat')
+    # determine the default cheatsheet dir
+    default_sheets_dir = os.environ.get('DEFAULT_CHEAT_DIR') or os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.cheat')
+
+    # create the DEFAULT_CHEAT_DIR if it does not exist
+    if not os.path.isdir(default_sheets_dir):
+        try:
+            # @kludge: unclear on why this is necessary
+            os.umask(0000)
+            os.mkdir(default_sheets_dir)
+
+        except OSError:
+            die('Could not create DEFAULT_CHEAT_DIR')
+
+    # assert that the DEFAULT_CHEAT_DIR is readable and writable
+    if not os.access(default_sheets_dir, os.R_OK):
+        die('The DEFAULT_CHEAT_DIR (' + default_sheets_dir +') is not readable.')
+    if not os.access(default_sheets_dir, os.W_OK):
+        die('The DEFAULT_CHEAT_DIR (' + default_sheets_dir +') is not writeable.')
+
+    # return the default dir
+    return default_sheets_dir
 
 
 # @todo: memoize result
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 20ab22d..b6def97 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import os
 
 setup(
     name         = 'cheat',
-    version      = '2.0.0',
+    version      = '2.0.1',
     author       = 'Chris Lane',
     author_email = 'chris@chris-allen-lane.com',
     license      = 'GPL3',