diff --git a/src/memory/memory.py b/src/memory/memory.py
index 848d44fb..58e1a3f3 100644
--- a/src/memory/memory.py
+++ b/src/memory/memory.py
@@ -163,10 +163,12 @@ class Memory(object):
                 target_file = BaseDirectory.save_config_path('sat') + '/sat.conf'
             config.set('', 'local_dir', old_default)
             with open(target_file, 'wb') as configfile:
-                config.write(configfile)
+                config.write(configfile)  # for the next time that user launches sat
             warning(_("Auto-update: local_dir set to %(path)s in the file %(config_file)s") % {'path': old_default, 'config_file': file_})
+            default = old_default
         else:  # use the new default local_dir
-            self.config.set('', 'local_dir', C.DEFAULT_LOCAL_DIR)
+            default = C.DEFAULT_LOCAL_DIR
+        self.config.set('', 'local_dir', default)  # for the currently running instance
 
     def getConfig(self, section, name):
         """Get the main configuration option