diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py b/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
index 39ffef3c3..d1d8f3eff 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
@@ -168,6 +168,55 @@ def pastebin(text):
     return url
 
 
+def _writable_location(typ):
+    """Wrapper around QStandardPaths.writableLocation."""
+    qapp = QCoreApplication.instance()
+    orgname = qapp.organizationName()
+    # We need to temporarily unset the organisationname here since the
+    # webinspector wants it to be set to store its persistent data correctly,
+    # but we don't want that to happen.
+    qapp.setOrganizationName(None)
+    try:
+        path = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(typ)
+    finally:
+        qapp.setOrganizationName(orgname)
+    if not path:
+        raise ValueError("QStandardPaths returned an empty value!")
+    # Qt seems to use '/' as path separator even on Windows...
+    path = path.replace('/', os.sep)
+    return path
+
+
+def _standard_dir_from_args(typ, args):
+    """Get the standard directory from an argparse namespace.
+
+    Args:
+        typ: A member of the QStandardPaths::StandardLocation enum
+        args: An argparse namespace or None.
+
+    Return:
+        A (override, path) tuple.
+            override: boolean, if the user did override the path
+            path: The overriden path, or None to turn off storage.
+    """
+    typ_to_argparse_arg = {
+        QStandardPaths.ConfigLocation: 'confdir'
+    }
+    if args is None:
+        return (False, None)
+    try:
+        argname = typ_to_argparse_arg[typ]
+    except KeyError:
+        return (False, None)
+    arg_value = getattr(args, argname)
+    if arg_value is None:
+        return (False, None)
+    elif arg_value == '':
+        return (True, None)
+    else:
+        return (True, arg_value)
+
+
 def get_standard_dir(typ, args=None):
     """Get the directory where files of the given type should be written to.
 
@@ -177,55 +226,27 @@ def get_standard_dir(typ, args=None):
         args: An argparse namespace which could be used to override the
               locations.
     """
-    # First check if it's been overridden
-    typ_to_argparse_arg = {
-        QStandardPaths.ConfigLocation: 'confdir'
-    }
-    if args is not None:
-        try:
-            argname = typ_to_argparse_arg[typ]
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
-        else:
-            arg_value = getattr(args, argname)
-            if arg_value is None:
-                pass
-            elif arg_value == '':
-                return None
-            else:
-                return arg_value
-    # If not, get it from Qt
-    qapp = QCoreApplication.instance()
-    orgname = qapp.organizationName()
-    # We need to temporarily unset the organisationname here since the
-    # webinspector wants it to be set to store its persistent data correctly,
-    # but we don't want that to happen.
-    qapp.setOrganizationName(None)
-    try:
-        path = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(typ)
-        if not path:
-            raise ValueError("QStandardPaths returned an empty value!")
-        # Qt seems to use '/' as path separator even on Windows...
-        path = path.replace('/', os.sep)
-        appname = qapp.applicationName()
-        if (typ == QStandardPaths.ConfigLocation and
-                path.split(os.sep)[-1] != appname):
-            # WORKAROUND - see
-            # https://bugreports.qt-project.org/browse/QTBUG-38872
-            path = os.path.join(path, appname)
-        if typ == QStandardPaths.DataLocation and os.name == 'nt':
-            # Under windows, config/data might end up in the same directory.
-            data_path = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(
-                QStandardPaths.DataLocation)
-            config_path = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(
-                QStandardPaths.ConfigLocation)
-            if data_path == config_path:
-                path = os.path.join(path, 'data')
-        if not os.path.exists(path):
-            os.makedirs(path)
+    overridden, path = _standard_dir_from_args(typ, args)
+    if overridden:
         return path
-    finally:
-        qapp.setOrganizationName(orgname)
+    path = _writable_location(typ)
+    appname = QCoreApplication.instance().applicationName()
+    if (typ == QStandardPaths.ConfigLocation and
+            path.split(os.sep)[-1] != appname):
+        # WORKAROUND - see
+        # https://bugreports.qt-project.org/browse/QTBUG-38872
+        path = os.path.join(path, appname)
+    if typ == QStandardPaths.DataLocation and os.name == 'nt':
+        # Under windows, config/data might end up in the same directory.
+        data_path = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(
+            QStandardPaths.DataLocation)
+        config_path = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(
+            QStandardPaths.ConfigLocation)
+        if data_path == config_path:
+            path = os.path.join(path, 'data')
+    if not os.path.exists(path):
+        os.makedirs(path)
+    return path
 
 
 def actute_warning():