diff --git a/ccopsOptions.h b/ccopsOptions.h
index 9732fcfef7d5d157d9ef6aacbd30c1b137d2381a..2b96345d456780ca53fe1887f199b2f95506bc3b 100644
--- a/ccopsOptions.h
+++ b/ccopsOptions.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class ccopsOptions {
    basename(string("-b,--basename"), string(""),
 	       string("Output basename"),
 	       true, requires_argument),
-   directory(string("-d,--dir"), string(""),
+   directory(string("-d,--dir"), string("."),
 	       string("Tractography Results Directory"),
 	       false, requires_argument),
    excl_mask(string("-x"), string(""),