diff --git a/src/pylorax/api/config.py b/src/pylorax/api/config.py
index c15e0e6e..e5f35152 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/api/config.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/api/config.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 import ConfigParser
+import grp
 import os
 
 from pylorax.sysutils import joinpaths
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ def configure(conf_file="/etc/lorax/composer.conf", root_dir="/", test_config=Fa
 
     # set defaults
     conf.add_section("composer")
-    conf.set("composer", "share_dir", os.path.realpath(joinpaths(root_dir, "/usr/share/lorax/composer/")))
+    conf.set("composer", "share_dir", os.path.realpath(joinpaths(root_dir, "/usr/share/lorax/")))
     conf.set("composer", "lib_dir", os.path.realpath(joinpaths(root_dir, "/var/lib/lorax/composer/")))
     conf.set("composer", "yum_conf", os.path.realpath(joinpaths(root_dir, "/var/tmp/composer/yum.conf")))
     conf.set("composer", "repo_dir", os.path.realpath(joinpaths(root_dir, "/var/tmp/composer/repos.d/")))
@@ -73,3 +74,33 @@ def make_yum_dirs(conf):
         p_dir = os.path.dirname(conf.get("composer", p))
         if not os.path.exists(p_dir):
             os.makedirs(p_dir)
+
+def make_queue_dirs(conf, gid):
+    """Make any missing queue directories
+
+    :param conf: The configuration to use
+    :type conf: ComposerConfig
+    :param gid: Group ID that has access to the queue directories
+    :type gid: int
+    :returns: list of errors
+    :rtype: list of str
+    """
+    errors = []
+    lib_dir = conf.get("composer", "lib_dir")
+    for p in ["queue/run", "queue/new", "results"]:
+        p_dir = joinpaths(lib_dir, p)
+        if not os.path.exists(p_dir):
+            orig_umask = os.umask(0)
+            os.makedirs(p_dir, 0o771)
+            os.chown(p_dir, 0, gid)
+            os.umask(orig_umask)
+        else:
+            p_stat = os.stat(p_dir)
+            if p_stat.st_mode & 0o006 != 0:
+                errors.append("Incorrect permissions on %s, no o+rw permissions are allowed." % p_dir)
+
+            if p_stat.st_gid != gid or p_stat.st_uid != 0:
+                gr_name = grp.getgrgid(gid).gr_name
+                errors.append("%s should be owned by root:%s" % (p_dir, gr_name))
+
+    return errors
diff --git a/src/sbin/lorax-composer b/src/sbin/lorax-composer
index f644574b..72e65379 100755
--- a/src/sbin/lorax-composer
+++ b/src/sbin/lorax-composer
@@ -35,13 +35,12 @@ from gevent import socket
 from gevent.wsgi import WSGIServer
 
 from pylorax import vernum
-from pylorax.api.config import configure, make_yum_dirs
+from pylorax.api.config import configure, make_yum_dirs, make_queue_dirs
 from pylorax.api.queue import monitor
 from pylorax.api.recipes import open_or_create_repo, commit_recipe_directory
 from pylorax.api.server import server, GitLock, YumLock
 from pylorax.api.yumbase import get_base_object
 from pylorax.base import DataHolder
-from pylorax.sysutils import joinpaths
 
 VERSION = "{0}-{1}".format(os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]), vernum)
 
@@ -189,23 +188,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     if opts.sharedir:
         server.config["COMPOSER_CFG"].set("composer", "share_dir", opts.sharedir)
 
-    # Make sure the queue paths are setup correctly
-    lib_dir = server.config["COMPOSER_CFG"].get("composer", "lib_dir")
-    for p in ["queue/run", "queue/new", "results"]:
-        p_dir = joinpaths(lib_dir, p)
-        if not os.path.exists(p_dir):
-            log.info("%s does not exist, creating it.", p_dir)
-            orig_umask = os.umask(0)
-            os.makedirs(p_dir, 0o771)
-            os.chown(p_dir, 0, gid)
-            os.umask(orig_umask)
-        else:
-            p_stat = os.stat(p_dir)
-            if p_stat.st_mode & 0o006 != 0:
-                errors.append("Incorrect permissions on %s, no o+rw permissions are allowed." % p_dir)
-
-            if p_stat.st_gid != gid or p_stat.st_uid != 0:
-                errors.append("%s should be owned by root:%s" % (p_dir, opts.group))
+    # Make sure the queue paths are setup correctly, exit on errors
+    errors = make_queue_dirs(server.config["COMPOSER_CFG"], gid)
+    if errors:
+        for e in errors:
+            log.error(e)
+        sys.exit(1)
 
     # Setup the Unix Domain Socket, remove old one, set ownership and permissions
     if os.path.exists(opts.socket):
@@ -217,6 +205,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     listener.listen(1)
 
     # Start queue monitor thread as root
+    lib_dir = server.config["COMPOSER_CFG"].get("composer", "lib_dir")
     cfg = DataHolder(composer_dir=lib_dir, uid=uid, gid=gid)
     p = mp.Process(target=monitor, args=(cfg,))
     p.daemon = True