diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 341711a..f7a3acc 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -189,14 +189,13 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	// default footage directory
-	if len(metadata.FootageDir) == 0 {
-		metadata.FootageDir = directory
-	} else if !strings.HasPrefix(metadata.FootageDir, "/") {
-		metadata.FootageDir = path.Join(directory, metadata.FootageDir)
+	footageDir := directory
+	if len(metadata.FootageDir) >= 0 && !strings.HasPrefix(metadata.FootageDir, "/") {
+		footageDir = path.Join(directory, metadata.FootageDir)
 	}
 
 	// scan for VOD segments
-	vodFiles, err := scanner.ScanSegments(metadata.FootageDir, SEGMENT_EXTENSION)
+	vodFiles, err := scanner.ScanSegments(footageDir, SEGMENT_EXTENSION)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to fetch VOD filenames: %v", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
@@ -270,7 +269,7 @@ func main() {
 		var totalLength float64 = 0
 
 		for _, filename := range vodFiles {
-			probe, err := scanner.ProbeSegment(path.Join(metadata.FootageDir, filename))
+			probe, err := scanner.ProbeSegment(path.Join(footageDir, filename))
 			if err != nil { continue }
 			totalLength += probe.Format.Duration
 		}