diff --git a/src/index.rs b/src/index.rs
index 97ac0c027c..38ce19a9b3 100644
--- a/src/index.rs
+++ b/src/index.rs
@@ -209,11 +209,10 @@ impl Index {
   pub fn open(options: &Options) -> Result<Self> {
     let client = options.bitcoin_rpc_client()?;
 
-    let path = if let Some(path) = &options.index {
-      path.clone()
-    } else {
-      options.data_dir()?.join("index.redb")
-    };
+    let path = options
+      .index
+      .clone()
+      .unwrap_or(options.data_dir().clone().join("index.redb"));
 
     if let Err(err) = fs::create_dir_all(path.parent().unwrap()) {
       bail!(
diff --git a/src/options.rs b/src/options.rs
index 0830c27739..e3a2b1f068 100644
--- a/src/options.rs
+++ b/src/options.rs
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub(crate) config_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
   #[arg(long, help = "Load Bitcoin Core RPC cookie file from <COOKIE_FILE>.")]
   pub(crate) cookie_file: Option<PathBuf>,
-  #[arg(long, help = "Store index in <DATA_DIR>.")]
-  pub(crate) data_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
+  #[arg(long, help = "Store index in <DATA_DIR>.", default_value_os_t = Options::default_data_dir())]
+  pub(crate) data_dir: PathBuf,
   #[arg(
     long,
     help = "Set index cache to <DB_CACHE_SIZE> bytes. By default takes 1/4 of available RAM."
@@ -139,15 +139,14 @@ impl Options {
     Ok(path.join(".cookie"))
   }
 
-  pub(crate) fn data_dir(&self) -> Result<PathBuf> {
-    let base = match &self.data_dir {
-      Some(base) => base.clone(),
-      None => dirs::data_dir()
-        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("failed to retrieve data dir"))?
-        .join("ord"),
-    };
+  fn default_data_dir() -> PathBuf {
+    dirs::data_dir()
+      .map(|dir| dir.join("ord"))
+      .expect("failed to retrieve data dir")
+  }
 
-    Ok(self.chain().join_with_data_dir(&base))
+  pub(crate) fn data_dir(&self) -> PathBuf {
+    self.chain().join_with_data_dir(&self.data_dir)
   }
 
   pub(crate) fn load_config(&self) -> Result<Config> {
@@ -443,7 +442,6 @@ mod tests {
       .unwrap()
       .options
       .data_dir()
-      .unwrap()
       .display()
       .to_string();
     assert!(
@@ -458,7 +456,6 @@ mod tests {
       .unwrap()
       .options
       .data_dir()
-      .unwrap()
       .display()
       .to_string();
     assert!(
@@ -484,7 +481,6 @@ mod tests {
     .unwrap()
     .options
     .data_dir()
-    .unwrap()
     .display()
     .to_string();
     assert!(
@@ -504,7 +500,6 @@ mod tests {
         .unwrap()
         .options
         .data_dir()
-        .unwrap()
         .display()
         .to_string();
 
diff --git a/src/subcommand/preview.rs b/src/subcommand/preview.rs
index f0dc76d69c..acf0a3b3da 100644
--- a/src/subcommand/preview.rs
+++ b/src/subcommand/preview.rs
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ impl Preview {
     let options = Options {
       chain_argument: Chain::Regtest,
       bitcoin_data_dir: Some(bitcoin_data_dir),
-      data_dir: Some(tmpdir.path().into()),
+      data_dir: tmpdir.path().into(),
       rpc_url: Some(format!("127.0.0.1:{rpc_port}")),
       index_sats: true,
       ..Options::default()
diff --git a/src/subcommand/server.rs b/src/subcommand/server.rs
index 4a6864f315..0c5dad2ce7 100644
--- a/src/subcommand/server.rs
+++ b/src/subcommand/server.rs
@@ -397,14 +397,10 @@ impl Server {
     }))
   }
 
-  fn acme_cache(acme_cache: Option<&PathBuf>, options: &Options) -> Result<PathBuf> {
-    let acme_cache = if let Some(acme_cache) = acme_cache {
-      acme_cache.clone()
-    } else {
-      options.data_dir()?.join("acme-cache")
-    };
-
-    Ok(acme_cache)
+  fn acme_cache(acme_cache: Option<&PathBuf>, options: &Options) -> PathBuf {
+    acme_cache
+      .unwrap_or(&options.data_dir().join("acme-cache"))
+      .to_path_buf()
   }
 
   fn acme_domains(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
@@ -439,7 +435,7 @@ impl Server {
       .cache_option(Some(DirCache::new(Self::acme_cache(
         self.acme_cache.as_ref(),
         options,
-      )?)))
+      ))))
       .directory(if cfg!(test) {
         LETS_ENCRYPT_STAGING_DIRECTORY
       } else {
@@ -1913,7 +1909,6 @@ mod tests {
   fn acme_cache_defaults_to_data_dir() {
     let arguments = Arguments::try_parse_from(["ord", "--data-dir", "foo", "server"]).unwrap();
     let acme_cache = Server::acme_cache(None, &arguments.options)
-      .unwrap()
       .display()
       .to_string();
     assert!(
@@ -1932,7 +1927,6 @@ mod tests {
       Arguments::try_parse_from(["ord", "--data-dir", "foo", "server", "--acme-cache", "bar"])
         .unwrap();
     let acme_cache = Server::acme_cache(Some(&"bar".into()), &arguments.options)
-      .unwrap()
       .display()
       .to_string();
     assert_eq!(acme_cache, "bar")