diff --git a/src/fileops.lisp b/src/fileops.lisp
index 552e62e..5f62dc6 100644
--- a/src/fileops.lisp
+++ b/src/fileops.lisp
@@ -2,17 +2,10 @@
 
 (defun base-dir ()
   (let ((os (uiop:detect-os)))
-    (uiop:parse-native-namestring
-     (cond ((eq os :os-windows)
-            (format nil "~a/" (uiop:getenv "LOCALAPPDATA")))
-
-           ((eq os :os-unix)
-            (format nil "~a/.local/share/" (user-homedir-pathname)))
-
-           ((eq os :os-macos)
-            (format nil "~a/Library/Application Support/" (user-homedir-pathname)))
-
-           (t (error "Unsupported OS"))))))
+    (cond ((eq os :os-windows) (truename "~/AppData/Local/"))
+          ((eq os :os-unix) (truename "~/.local/share/"))
+          ((eq os :os-macos) (truename "~/Library/Application Support/"))
+          (t (error "Unsupported OS")))))
 
 (defun app-dir ()
   (uiop:merge-pathnames* #P"ml-survey/" (base-dir)))
@@ -33,15 +26,14 @@
                             :if-exists :overwrite
                             :if-does-not-exist :create)
       (format stream "")))
-  pathname)
+  (truename pathname))
 
 (defun ensure-data-file-exist (survey-id questionnaire-id)
   (let ((path (format nil "~a~a/~a.lisp"
                       (ensure-data-dir)
                       survey-id
                       questionnaire-id)))
-    (ensure-directories-exist path)
-    (ensure-file-exist path)))
+    (ensure-file-exist (ensure-directories-exist path))))
 
 (defun make-db-file (file)
   "Prepare and ensure a database file at FILE-STR path."
@@ -49,7 +41,6 @@
   (let ((path (uiop:merge-pathnames* file (ensure-data-dir))))
     (ensure-file-exist path)))
 
-
 (defun load-response (db)
   (check-type db (or string pathname))
   (with-open-file (stream db