diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index a2b844363..4aad6498f 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ Other fixes:
  - GB SIO: Fix lockstep failing games aren't reloaded
  - Core: Fix crash when exiting game with cheats loaded
  - GBA Cheats: Fix PARv3 Thumb hooks
+ - mGUI: Fix crash if last loaded ROM directory disappears (fixes mgba.io/i/1466)
 Misc:
  - GBA Savedata: EEPROM performance fixes
  - GBA Savedata: Automatically map 1Mbit Flash files as 1Mbit Flash
diff --git a/src/feature/gui/gui-runner.c b/src/feature/gui/gui-runner.c
index 038d30a3c..af6584ee0 100644
--- a/src/feature/gui/gui-runner.c
+++ b/src/feature/gui/gui-runner.c
@@ -212,8 +212,12 @@ void mGUIInit(struct mGUIRunner* runner, const char* port) {
 
 	const char* lastPath = mCoreConfigGetValue(&runner->config, "lastDirectory");
 	if (lastPath) {
-		strncpy(runner->params.currentPath, lastPath, PATH_MAX - 1);
-		runner->params.currentPath[PATH_MAX - 1] = '\0';
+		struct VDir* dir = VDirOpen(lastPath);
+		if (dir) {
+			dir->close(dir);
+			strncpy(runner->params.currentPath, lastPath, PATH_MAX - 1);
+			runner->params.currentPath[PATH_MAX - 1] = '\0';
+		}
 	}
 
 #ifndef DISABLE_THREADING