diff --git a/PenumbraIpc.cs b/PenumbraIpc.cs
index 91e5084..37bb588 100644
--- a/PenumbraIpc.cs
+++ b/PenumbraIpc.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using Heliosphere.Ui;
 using Penumbra.Api.Enums;
 using Penumbra.Api.Helpers;
 
@@ -65,6 +67,21 @@ private void RegisterEvents() {
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets the mod directory from Penumbra. Will open a warning popup to users
+    /// who have not set Penumbra up correctly.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="modDirectory">The mod directory</param>
+    /// <returns>true if the mod directory is valid, false if invalid or Penumbra's IPC could not be contacted</returns>
+    internal bool TryGetModDirectory([NotNullWhen(true)] out string? modDirectory) {
+        modDirectory = this.GetModDirectory();
+        if (modDirectory?.Trim() == string.Empty) {
+            this.Plugin.PluginUi.AddToDraw(new SetUpPenumbraWindow(this.Plugin));
+        }
+
+        return !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDirectory);
+    }
+
     internal bool AddMod(string path) {
         try {
             return this.AddModSubscriber.Invoke(path) == PenumbraApiEc.Success;
diff --git a/Server.cs b/Server.cs
index f6c7bbe..8d997cb 100644
--- a/Server.cs
+++ b/Server.cs
@@ -141,8 +141,7 @@ private void HandleConnection() {
                                 this.Plugin.Name,
                                 NotificationType.Info
                             );
-                            var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-                            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+                            if (this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
                                 await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(
                                     this.Plugin,
                                     modDir,
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(
                                 ));
                             } else {
                                 this.Plugin.Interface.UiBuilder.AddNotification(
-                                    "Could not ask Penumbra where its directory is.",
+                                    "Cannot install mod: Penumbra is not set up.",
                                     this.Plugin.Name,
                                     NotificationType.Error
                                 );
@@ -213,8 +212,7 @@ await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(
                             var resp = await Plugin.GraphQl.MultiVariantInstall.ExecuteAsync(info.PackageId);
                             resp.EnsureNoErrors();
 
-                            var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-                            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir) && resp.Data?.Package?.Variants != null) {
+                            if (this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir) && resp.Data?.Package?.Variants != null) {
                                 foreach (var variant in resp.Data.Package.Variants) {
                                     if (variant.Versions.Count <= 0) {
                                         continue;
@@ -232,7 +230,7 @@ await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(
                                 }
                             } else {
                                 this.Plugin.Interface.UiBuilder.AddNotification(
-                                    "Could not ask Penumbra where its directory is.",
+                                    "Cannot install mod: Penumbra is not set up.",
                                     this.Plugin.Name,
                                     NotificationType.Error
                                 );
@@ -279,10 +277,9 @@ await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(
 
                 var oneClick = this.OneClickPassed(info.OneClickPassword, holdingShift);
 
-                var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-                if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+                if (!this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
                     this.Plugin.Interface.UiBuilder.AddNotification(
-                        "Could not ask Penumbra where its directory is.",
+                        "Cannot install mod: Penumbra is not set up.",
                         this.Plugin.Name,
                         NotificationType.Error
                     );
diff --git a/Ui/ExternalImportWindow.cs b/Ui/ExternalImportWindow.cs
index 86698e7..46d43a4 100644
--- a/Ui/ExternalImportWindow.cs
+++ b/Ui/ExternalImportWindow.cs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public DrawStatus Draw() {
         var label = this._processing
             ? "Working..."
             : "Import";
-        if (ImGui.Button($"{label}###import") && this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory() is { } penumbra && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(penumbra)) {
+        if (ImGui.Button($"{label}###import") && this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var penumbra)) {
             var tasks = new List<Task>();
             foreach (var id in this.Selected) {
                 if (!external.TryGetValue(id, out var info)) {
diff --git a/Ui/InstallerWindow.cs b/Ui/InstallerWindow.cs
index 8010488..826fd94 100644
--- a/Ui/InstallerWindow.cs
+++ b/Ui/InstallerWindow.cs
@@ -206,8 +206,7 @@ public DrawStatus Draw() {
         var ret = DrawStatus.Continue;
         if (atEnd) {
             if (ImGui.Button("Download")) {
-                var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-                if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+                if (this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
                     Task.Run(async () => await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(this.Plugin, modDir, this.VersionId, this._options, this.IncludeTags, this.OpenInPenumbra, this.PenumbraCollection, this.DownloadKey)));
                     ret = DrawStatus.Finished;
                 }
diff --git a/Ui/MultiPromptWindow.cs b/Ui/MultiPromptWindow.cs
index 9e23093..90ce471 100644
--- a/Ui/MultiPromptWindow.cs
+++ b/Ui/MultiPromptWindow.cs
@@ -114,12 +114,11 @@ public DrawStatus Draw() {
             ref this._collection
         );
 
-        var ret = false;
+        var ret = DrawStatus.Continue;
 
         if (ImGui.Button("Install")) {
-            ret = true;
-            var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+            ret = DrawStatus.Finished;
+            if (this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
                 foreach (var info in this.Infos) {
                     Task.Run(async () => await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(
                         this.Plugin,
@@ -136,11 +135,11 @@ ref this._collection
 
         ImGui.SameLine();
         if (ImGui.Button("Cancel")) {
-            ret = true;
+            ret = DrawStatus.Finished;
         }
 
         ImGui.End();
-        return DrawStatus.Continue;
+        return ret;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/Ui/MultiVariantPromptWindow.cs b/Ui/MultiVariantPromptWindow.cs
index c96fa48..4f1b376 100644
--- a/Ui/MultiVariantPromptWindow.cs
+++ b/Ui/MultiVariantPromptWindow.cs
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ ref this._collection
 
         if (ImGui.Button("Install")) {
             ret = DrawStatus.Finished;
-            var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+            if (this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
                 foreach (var version in this.Variants.Values) {
                     Task.Run(async () => await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(this.Plugin, modDir, version.Id, this._includeTags, this._openInPenumbra, this._collection, this._downloadKey)));
                 }
diff --git a/Ui/PromptWindow.cs b/Ui/PromptWindow.cs
index 6c4cc27..c20fa85 100644
--- a/Ui/PromptWindow.cs
+++ b/Ui/PromptWindow.cs
@@ -134,8 +134,7 @@ ref this._collection
 
         if (ImGui.Button("Install")) {
             ret = DrawStatus.Finished;
-            var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+            if (this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
                 Task.Run(async () => await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(this.Plugin, modDir, this.VersionId, this._includeTags, this._openInPenumbra, this._collection, this._downloadKey)));
             }
         }
diff --git a/Ui/Tabs/Manager.cs b/Ui/Tabs/Manager.cs
index 871b619..78760fd 100644
--- a/Ui/Tabs/Manager.cs
+++ b/Ui/Tabs/Manager.cs
@@ -341,8 +341,7 @@ private void DrawActionsTab(HeliosphereMeta pkg) {
                 }
 
                 if (pkg.FullInstall) {
-                    var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-                    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+                    if (this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
                         this.Plugin.DownloadCodes.TryGetCode(pkg.Id, out var code);
                         await this.Plugin.AddDownloadAsync(new DownloadTask(this.Plugin, modDir, info.Versions[0].Id, pkg.IncludeTags, false, null, code));
                     }
@@ -597,8 +596,7 @@ private async Task DownloadUpdatesInner(bool useConfig) {
             return;
         }
 
-        var modDir = this.Plugin.Penumbra.GetModDirectory();
-        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modDir)) {
+        if (!this.Plugin.Penumbra.TryGetModDirectory(out var modDir)) {
             return;
         }