diff --git a/audio_separator/separator/separator.py b/audio_separator/separator/separator.py
index f2863c3..2c572da 100644
--- a/audio_separator/separator/separator.py
+++ b/audio_separator/separator/separator.py
@@ -101,6 +101,11 @@ def __init__(
         self.logger.info(f"Separator version {package_version} instantiating with output_dir: {output_dir}, output_format: {output_format}")
 
         self.model_file_dir = model_file_dir
+
+        if output_dir is None:
+            output_dir = os.getcwd()
+            self.logger.info("Output directory not specified. Using current working directory.")
+
         self.output_dir = output_dir
 
         # Create the model directory if it does not exist
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index d75026b..25d1905 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "poetry.core.masonry.api"
 
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "audio-separator"
-version = "0.17.3"
+version = "0.17.4"
 description = "Easy to use audio stem separation, using various models from UVR trained primarily by @Anjok07"
 authors = ["Andrew Beveridge <andrew@beveridge.uk>"]
 license = "MIT"