diff --git a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py
index 7344844..e86b989 100644
--- a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py
+++ b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/app.py
@@ -615,17 +615,24 @@ def _save_portal_descriptions(descriptions):
 def api_portal_files_list():
     """List one level: root or contents of path=... (folders and files)."""
     subpath = request.args.get("path", "").strip().strip("/")
+    base_url = request.host_url.rstrip("/") + "/files/"
+    empty = {"items": [], "base_url": base_url, "descriptions": {}, "current_path": subpath, "portal_files_dir": str(PORTAL_FILES_DIR)}
     if ".." in subpath or "\\" in subpath:
-        return jsonify({"items": [], "base_url": request.host_url.rstrip("/") + "/files/", "descriptions": {}, "current_path": ""})
+        return jsonify(empty)
     if not PORTAL_FILES_DIR.is_dir():
-        return jsonify({"items": [], "base_url": request.host_url.rstrip("/") + "/files/", "descriptions": {}, "current_path": ""})
+        try:
+            PORTAL_FILES_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        if not PORTAL_FILES_DIR.is_dir():
+            return jsonify(empty)
     list_dir = (PORTAL_FILES_DIR / subpath).resolve() if subpath else PORTAL_FILES_DIR
     try:
         list_dir.relative_to(PORTAL_FILES_DIR.resolve())
     except ValueError:
-        return jsonify({"items": [], "base_url": request.host_url.rstrip("/") + "/files/", "descriptions": {}, "current_path": subpath})
+        return jsonify({**empty, "current_path": subpath})
     if not list_dir.is_dir():
-        return jsonify({"items": [], "base_url": request.host_url.rstrip("/") + "/files/", "descriptions": {}, "current_path": subpath})
+        return jsonify({**empty, "current_path": subpath})
     items = []
     for p in sorted(list_dir.iterdir(), key=lambda x: (not x.is_dir(), x.name.lower())):
         if ".." in p.name or p.name.startswith("."):
@@ -639,8 +646,7 @@ def api_portal_files_list():
         except OSError:
             pass
     descriptions = _load_portal_descriptions()
-    base = request.host_url.rstrip("/") + "/files/"
-    return jsonify({"items": items, "base_url": base, "descriptions": descriptions, "current_path": subpath})
+    return jsonify({"items": items, "base_url": base_url, "descriptions": descriptions, "current_path": subpath, "portal_files_dir": str(PORTAL_FILES_DIR)})
 
 
 @app.route("/api/portal-files/descriptions", methods=["GET", "PATCH"])
diff --git a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/portal_files.html b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/portal_files.html
index 7bd8d42..87368b7 100644
--- a/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/portal_files.html
+++ b/chromium-setup/emmc-provisioning/dashboard/templates/portal_files.html
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@
         <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline btn-sm" id="uploadBtn">Upload file</button>
         <input type="file" id="uploadInput" style="display:none;" />
       </div>
-      <p class="mono" style="font-size:0.8rem; margin-bottom:0.75rem;">Served at <strong id="baseUrl">/files/</strong> — use in cloud-init e.g. <code>curl -fsSL "http://SERVER/files/first-boot/splash.png" -o /tmp/splash.png</code></p>
+      <p class="mono" style="font-size:0.8rem; margin-bottom:0.5rem;">Served at <strong id="baseUrl">/files/</strong> — use in cloud-init e.g. <code>curl -fsSL "http://SERVER/files/first-boot/splash.png" -o /tmp/splash.png</code></p>
+      <p class="mono" style="font-size:0.75rem; color:var(--text-muted); margin-bottom:0.75rem;">Directory on server: <strong id="portalDir">—</strong></p>
       <table>
         <thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Type</th><th>Size</th><th>Description</th><th>Actions</th></tr></thead>
         <tbody id="portalBody"></tbody>
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@
       descriptions = data.descriptions || {};
       currentPath = data.current_path || '';
       document.getElementById('baseUrl').textContent = baseUrl + (currentPath ? currentPath + '/' : '');
+      document.getElementById('portalDir').textContent = data.portal_files_dir || '—';
       buildBreadcrumb();
 
       var tbody = document.getElementById('portalBody');