diff --git a/src/mu-cmd-cfind.c b/src/mu-cmd-cfind.c
index 5842d718..1e03ad3e 100644
--- a/src/mu-cmd-cfind.c
+++ b/src/mu-cmd-cfind.c
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ run_cmd_cfind (const char* pattern, OutputFormat format)
 	MuContacts *contacts;
 	size_t num;
 	
-	contacts = mu_contacts_new (mu_runtime_contacts_cache_file());
+	contacts = mu_contacts_new (mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CONTACTS));
 	if (!contacts) {
 		g_warning ("could not retrieve contacts");
 		return MU_EXITCODE_ERROR;
diff --git a/src/mu-cmd-find.c b/src/mu-cmd-find.c
index 1554e549..c2d250e3 100644
--- a/src/mu-cmd-find.c
+++ b/src/mu-cmd-find.c
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ query_params_valid (MuConfig *opts)
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 	
-	xpath = mu_runtime_xapian_dir();
+	xpath = mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB);
 	
 	if (mu_util_check_dir (xpath, TRUE, FALSE))
 		return TRUE;
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ resolve_bookmark (MuConfig *opts)
 	char* val;
 	const gchar *bmfile;
 	
-	bmfile = mu_runtime_bookmarks_file();
+	bmfile = mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_BOOKMARKS);
 	bm = mu_bookmarks_new (bmfile);
 	if (!bm) {
 		g_warning ("failed to open bookmarks file '%s'", bmfile);
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ get_query_obj (void)
 	const char* xpath;
 	MuQuery *mquery;
 	
-	xpath = mu_runtime_xapian_dir ();
+	xpath = mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB);
 	if (!db_is_ready(xpath)) {
 		g_warning ("database '%s' is not ready", xpath);
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/src/mu-cmd-index.c b/src/mu-cmd-index.c
index 1d11c798..6c351bbd 100644
--- a/src/mu-cmd-index.c
+++ b/src/mu-cmd-index.c
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ database_version_check_and_update (MuConfig *opts)
 {
 	const gchar *xpath;
 
-	xpath = mu_runtime_xapian_dir ();
+	xpath = mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB);
 	
 	if (mu_util_xapian_is_empty (xpath))
 		return TRUE;
@@ -249,7 +249,8 @@ cmd_cleanup (MuIndex *midx, MuConfig *opts, MuIndexStats *stats,
 	MuResult rv;
 	time_t t;
 	
-	g_message ("cleaning up messages [%s]", mu_runtime_xapian_dir());
+	g_message ("cleaning up messages [%s]",
+		   mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB));
 	
 	t = time (NULL);
 	rv = mu_index_cleanup (midx, stats,
@@ -276,7 +277,7 @@ cmd_index (MuIndex *midx, MuConfig *opts, MuIndexStats *stats,
 	time_t t;
 	
 	g_message ("indexing messages under %s [%s]", opts->maildir,
-		   mu_runtime_xapian_dir());
+		   mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB));
 	
 	t = time (NULL);
 	rv = mu_index_run (midx, opts->maildir, opts->reindex, stats,
@@ -349,8 +350,8 @@ init_mu_index (MuConfig *opts, MuExitCode *code)
 	}
 	
 	err = NULL;
-	midx = mu_index_new (mu_runtime_xapian_dir(),
-			     mu_runtime_contacts_cache_file(),
+	midx = mu_index_new (mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB),
+			     mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CONTACTS),
 			     &err);
 	if (!midx) {
 		*code = handle_index_error_and_free (err);
diff --git a/src/mu-runtime.c b/src/mu-runtime.c
index 376bee29..89ab7240 100644
--- a/src/mu-runtime.c
+++ b/src/mu-runtime.c
@@ -31,23 +31,16 @@
 #include "mu-config.h"
 #include "mu-log.h"
 #include "mu-util.h"
-
-enum {
-	MU_RUNTIME_STR_MU_HOMEPATH,
-	MU_RUNTIME_STR_XAPIAN_PATH,
-	MU_RUNTIME_STR_BOOKMARKS_PATH,
-	MU_RUNTIME_STR_CACHE_PATH,
-	MU_RUNTIME_STR_CONTACTS_PATH,
-	MU_RUNTIME_STR_NUM
-};
 	
 #define MU_XAPIAN_DIRNAME	"xapian"
 #define MU_BOOKMARKS_FILENAME	"bookmarks"
 #define MU_CACHE_DIRNAME        "cache"
 #define MU_CONTACTS_FILENAME	"contacts"
+#define MU_LOG_DIRNAME		"log"
+
 
 struct _MuRuntimeData {
-	gchar            *_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_NUM];
+	gchar            *_str[MU_RUNTIME_PATH_NUM];
 	MuConfig	 *_config;
 };
 typedef struct _MuRuntimeData	 MuRuntimeData;
@@ -56,7 +49,8 @@ typedef struct _MuRuntimeData	 MuRuntimeData;
 static gboolean		 _initialized = FALSE;
 static MuRuntimeData	*_data	      = NULL;
 
-static void runtime_free (void);
+static void     runtime_free (void);
+static gboolean init_paths (const char* muhome, MuRuntimeData *data);
 
 static gboolean
 mu_dir_is_readable_and_writable (const char *muhome)
@@ -70,38 +64,6 @@ mu_dir_is_readable_and_writable (const char *muhome)
 	return FALSE;
 }
 
-static gboolean
-init_paths (const char* muhome, MuRuntimeData *data)
-{
-	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_STR_XAPIAN_PATH] =
-		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", muhome,
-				 G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
-				 MU_XAPIAN_DIRNAME);
-	
-	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_STR_BOOKMARKS_PATH] =
-		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", muhome,
-				 G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
-				 MU_BOOKMARKS_FILENAME);
-
-	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_STR_CACHE_PATH] =
-		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", muhome,
-				 G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
-				 MU_CACHE_DIRNAME);
-	
-	if (!mu_util_create_dir_maybe
-	    (_data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_CACHE_PATH], 0700)) {
-		g_warning ("failed to create cache dir");
-		return FALSE;
-	}
-	
-	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_STR_CONTACTS_PATH] =
-		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s",
-				 data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_CACHE_PATH],
-				 G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
-				 MU_CONTACTS_FILENAME);
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
 
 gboolean
 mu_runtime_init (const char* muhome_arg)
@@ -129,7 +91,7 @@ mu_runtime_init (const char* muhome_arg)
 	}
 	
 	_data = g_new0 (MuRuntimeData, 1);
- 	_data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_MU_HOMEPATH] = muhome;
+ 	_data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_PATH_MUHOME] = muhome;
 	init_paths (muhome, _data);
 	
 	mu_msg_gmime_init ();
@@ -174,9 +136,9 @@ mu_runtime_init_from_cmdline (int *pargc, char ***pargv)
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 	
-	_data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_MU_HOMEPATH] =
+	_data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_PATH_MUHOME] =
 		g_strdup (_data->_config->muhome);
-	init_paths (_data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_MU_HOMEPATH], _data);
+	init_paths (_data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_PATH_MUHOME], _data);
 	
 	mu_msg_gmime_init ();
 	
@@ -189,7 +151,7 @@ runtime_free (void)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i != MU_RUNTIME_STR_NUM; ++i)
+	for (i = 0; i != MU_RUNTIME_PATH_NUM; ++i)
 		g_free (_data->_str[i]);
 	
 	mu_config_destroy (_data->_config);
@@ -211,38 +173,65 @@ mu_runtime_uninit (void)
 }
 	
 
-const char*
-mu_runtime_mu_home_dir (void)
+static gboolean
+create_dirs_maybe (MuRuntimeData *data)
 {
-	g_return_val_if_fail (_initialized, NULL);
-	return _data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_MU_HOMEPATH];
+	if (!mu_util_create_dir_maybe
+	    (data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CACHE], 0700)) {
+		g_warning ("failed to create cache dir");
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	if (!mu_util_create_dir_maybe
+	    (data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_PATH_LOG], 0700)) {
+		g_warning ("failed to create log dir");
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+	
+	return TRUE;
+}
+
+
+
+static gboolean
+init_paths (const char* muhome, MuRuntimeData *data)
+{
+	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB] =
+		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", muhome, G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
+				 MU_XAPIAN_DIRNAME);
+	
+	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_PATH_BOOKMARKS] =
+		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", muhome,G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
+				 MU_BOOKMARKS_FILENAME);
+
+	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CACHE] =
+		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", muhome, G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
+				 MU_CACHE_DIRNAME);
+	
+	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CONTACTS] =
+		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CACHE],
+				 G_DIR_SEPARATOR, MU_CONTACTS_FILENAME);
+
+	data->_str [MU_RUNTIME_PATH_LOG] =
+		g_strdup_printf ("%s%c%s", muhome, G_DIR_SEPARATOR,
+				 MU_LOG_DIRNAME);
+
+	if (!create_dirs_maybe (data))
+		return FALSE;
+
+	return TRUE;
 }
 
 
 const char*
-mu_runtime_xapian_dir (void)
+mu_runtime_path (MuRuntimePath path)
 {
 	g_return_val_if_fail (_initialized, NULL);
-	return _data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_XAPIAN_PATH];
+	g_return_val_if_fail (path < MU_RUNTIME_PATH_NUM, NULL);
+	
+	return _data->_str[path];
 }
 
-const char*
-mu_runtime_bookmarks_file  (void)
-{
-	g_return_val_if_fail (_initialized, NULL);
-	return _data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_BOOKMARKS_PATH];
-}
-
-
-const char*
-mu_runtime_contacts_cache_file  (void)
-{
-	g_return_val_if_fail (_initialized, NULL);
-	return _data->_str[MU_RUNTIME_STR_CONTACTS_PATH];
-}
-
-
-
 MuConfig*
 mu_runtime_config (void)
 {
diff --git a/src/mu-runtime.h b/src/mu-runtime.h
index e298d348..27e2b468 100644
--- a/src/mu-runtime.h
+++ b/src/mu-runtime.h
@@ -55,6 +55,28 @@ gboolean mu_runtime_init_from_cmdline (int *pargc, char ***pargv);
  */
 void mu_runtime_uninit (void);
 
+
+enum _MuRuntimePath {
+	MU_RUNTIME_PATH_MUHOME,     /* mu home path */
+	MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB,   /* mu xapian db path */
+	MU_RUNTIME_PATH_BOOKMARKS,  /* mu bookmarks file path */
+	MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CACHE,      /* mu cache path */
+	MU_RUNTIME_PATH_LOG,        /* mu path for log files */
+	MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CONTACTS,   /* mu path to the contacts cache */
+
+	MU_RUNTIME_PATH_NUM
+};
+typedef enum _MuRuntimePath MuRuntimePath;
+
+/**
+ * get a file system path to some 'special' file or directory
+ * 
+ * @return ma string which should be not be modified/freed, or NULL in
+ * case of error.
+ */
+const char* mu_runtime_path   (MuRuntimePath path);
+
+
 /**
  * get the mu home directory (typically, ~/.mu); this can only be
  * called after mu_runtime_init and before mu_runtime_uninit
diff --git a/src/tests/test-mu-runtime.c b/src/tests/test-mu-runtime.c
index d46ee4f6..f47bd7a3 100644
--- a/src/tests/test-mu-runtime.c
+++ b/src/tests/test-mu-runtime.c
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ test_mu_runtime_data (void)
 
 	g_assert (mu_runtime_init (homedir) == TRUE);	
 	
-	g_assert_cmpstr (homedir, ==, mu_runtime_mu_home_dir ());
-	g_assert_cmpstr (xdir, ==, mu_runtime_xapian_dir ());
-	g_assert_cmpstr (bmfile, ==, mu_runtime_bookmarks_file ());
+	g_assert_cmpstr (homedir, ==, mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_MUHOME));
+	g_assert_cmpstr (xdir, ==, mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB));
+	g_assert_cmpstr (bmfile, ==, mu_runtime_path (MU_RUNTIME_PATH_BOOKMARKS));
 
 	mu_runtime_uninit ();
 
@@ -94,3 +94,5 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	
 	return g_test_run ();
 }
+
+
diff --git a/toys/mug/mug.cc b/toys/mug/mug.cc
index 4f13e6b9..2495b4f6 100644
--- a/toys/mug/mug.cc
+++ b/toys/mug/mug.cc
@@ -152,7 +152,8 @@ on_shortcut_clicked (GtkWidget * w, const gchar * query, MugData * mdata)
 static GtkWidget *
 mug_shortcuts_bar (MugData * data)
 {
-	data->shortcuts = mug_shortcuts_new (mu_runtime_bookmarks_file ());
+	data->shortcuts = mug_shortcuts_new
+		(mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_BOOKMARKS));
 
 	g_signal_connect (G_OBJECT (data->shortcuts), "clicked",
 			  G_CALLBACK (on_shortcut_clicked), data);
@@ -263,7 +264,8 @@ mug_query_area (MugData * mugdata)
 	queryarea = gtk_vbox_new (FALSE, 2);
 	paned = gtk_vpaned_new ();
 
-	mugdata->mlist = mug_msg_list_view_new (mu_runtime_xapian_dir ());
+	mugdata->mlist = mug_msg_list_view_new
+		(mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB));
 	scrolled = gtk_scrolled_window_new (NULL, NULL);
 	gtk_scrolled_window_set_policy (GTK_SCROLLED_WINDOW (scrolled),
 					GTK_POLICY_AUTOMATIC,
diff --git a/toys/mug2/mug.cc b/toys/mug2/mug.cc
index 38f6aab9..4c8bde3a 100644
--- a/toys/mug2/mug.cc
+++ b/toys/mug2/mug.cc
@@ -62,12 +62,13 @@ reindex (MugData *mugdata)
 	MuIndex *midx;
 	GError *err;
 
-	if (mu_util_xapian_is_locked (mu_runtime_xapian_dir()))
+	if (mu_util_xapian_is_locked
+	    (mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB)))
 		return;
 	
 	err = NULL;
-	midx = mu_index_new (mu_runtime_xapian_dir(),
-			     mu_runtime_contacts_cache_file(),
+	midx = mu_index_new (mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB),
+			     mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_CONTACTS),
 			     &err);
 	if (!midx) {
 		if (err && err->code == MU_ERROR_XAPIAN_CANNOT_GET_WRITELOCK) {
@@ -201,7 +202,8 @@ on_shortcut_clicked (GtkWidget * w, const gchar * query, MugData * mdata)
 static GtkWidget *
 mug_shortcuts_bar (MugData * data)
 {
-	data->shortcuts = mug_shortcuts_new (mu_runtime_bookmarks_file ());
+	data->shortcuts = mug_shortcuts_new
+		(mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_BOOKMARKS));
 
 	g_signal_connect (G_OBJECT (data->shortcuts), "clicked",
 			  G_CALLBACK (on_shortcut_clicked), data);
@@ -308,7 +310,8 @@ mug_query_area (MugData * mugdata)
 	queryarea = gtk_vbox_new (FALSE, 2);
 	paned = gtk_vpaned_new ();
 
-	mugdata->mlist = mug_msg_list_view_new (mu_runtime_xapian_dir ());
+	mugdata->mlist = mug_msg_list_view_new
+		(mu_runtime_path(MU_RUNTIME_PATH_XAPIANDB));
 	scrolled = gtk_scrolled_window_new (NULL, NULL);
 	gtk_scrolled_window_set_policy (GTK_SCROLLED_WINDOW (scrolled),
 					GTK_POLICY_AUTOMATIC,