diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 6d0696f..30db94e 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -62,6 +62,17 @@ func main() {
 		app.go2rtc = go2rtc
 	}
 
+	// Wait for the recordings storage before starting any writers. On a slow
+	// boot (e.g. fsck after a power cut) the mount can appear tens of seconds
+	// late; this avoids the recorders failing against an unmounted, root-owned
+	// mountpoint. If it times out we still start — live view does not need
+	// storage, and the recorder retries on its own.
+	if st := waitForStorage(cfg.Storage.RecordingsPath, 120*time.Second); st.OK {
+		log.Printf("startup: storage ready — %s", cfg.Storage.RecordingsPath)
+	} else {
+		log.Printf("startup: storage NOT ready (%s) — starting anyway; recording will retry", st.Message)
+	}
+
 	// Start snapshot engine for all enabled cameras.
 	snaps := NewSnapshotEngine(cfg.Storage)
 	snaps.StartAll(cfg.Cameras)
diff --git a/recorder.go b/recorder.go
index b954b75..8a6b4e4 100644
--- a/recorder.go
+++ b/recorder.go
@@ -107,10 +107,6 @@ func (rm *RecorderManager) startRecorder(cam CameraConfig) {
 	}
 
 	outDir := filepath.Join(rm.config.RecordingsPath, camDirName)
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(outDir, 0755); err != nil {
-		log.Printf("recorder: %s — mkdir %s failed: %v", cam.ID, outDir, err)
-		return
-	}
 
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -120,6 +116,20 @@ func (rm *RecorderManager) startRecorder(cam CameraConfig) {
 		default:
 		}
 
+		// Ensure the output directory exists. Storage may not be mounted yet
+		// (e.g. a slow boot after a power cut) or may have vanished mid-run —
+		// retry instead of exiting, so recording resumes automatically once
+		// storage returns and the mount covers the directory again.
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(outDir, 0755); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("recorder: %s — storage not ready at %s: %v — retrying in 15s", cam.ID, outDir, err)
+			select {
+			case <-proc.done:
+				return
+			case <-time.After(15 * time.Second):
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
 		// Generate filename: rec_{YYYY-MM-DD-HH-MM-SS}.mp4
 		now := time.Now()
 		timeStr := now.Format("2006-01-02-15-04-05")
diff --git a/storage.go b/storage.go
index 9a6021a..d43c8d0 100644
--- a/storage.go
+++ b/storage.go
@@ -174,3 +174,29 @@ func isMountPoint(path string) bool {
 	}
 	return cs.Dev != ps.Dev
 }
+
+// waitForStorage blocks until the recordings path exists and is writable, or
+// until the timeout elapses. It is meant to run before the writers start: on a
+// slow boot (e.g. an fsck on the recordings drive after a power cut) the mount
+// can appear tens of seconds late, and without this the recorders would stumble
+// against an unmounted, root-owned mountpoint. Returns the final status; if the
+// timeout expires the caller may still proceed (live view does not need storage,
+// and the recorder retries on its own).
+func waitForStorage(path string, timeout time.Duration) StorageStatus {
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(timeout)
+	warned := false
+	for {
+		st := checkStorage(path, false)
+		if st.OK {
+			return st
+		}
+		if !warned {
+			log.Printf("startup: waiting for recordings storage at %s (%s)", path, st.Message)
+			warned = true
+		}
+		if !time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+			return st
+		}
+		time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	}
+}