diff --git a/core/cmd/dms/commands_greeter.go b/core/cmd/dms/commands_greeter.go
index c1982bfb..68cd3789 100644
--- a/core/cmd/dms/commands_greeter.go
+++ b/core/cmd/dms/commands_greeter.go
@@ -1490,6 +1490,19 @@ func checkGreeterStatus() error {
 	}
 	if stat, err := os.Stat(cacheDir); err == nil && stat.IsDir() {
 		fmt.Printf("  ✓ %s exists\n", cacheDir)
+		requiredSubdirs := []string{".local/state", ".local/share", ".cache"}
+		missingSubdirs := false
+		for _, sub := range requiredSubdirs {
+			subPath := filepath.Join(cacheDir, sub)
+			if _, err := os.Stat(subPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+				fmt.Printf("  ⚠ Missing required subdir: %s\n", subPath)
+				missingSubdirs = true
+			}
+		}
+		if missingSubdirs {
+			fmt.Println("    Run 'dms greeter sync' to initialize the cache directory structure.")
+			allGood = false
+		}
 	} else {
 		fmt.Printf("  ✗ %s not found\n", cacheDir)
 		fmt.Printf("    %s\n", packageInstallHint())
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/GreetdMemory.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/GreetdMemory.qml
index 541e6af5..da949d30 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/GreetdMemory.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/GreetdMemory.qml
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ Singleton {
     property bool nightModeEnabled: false
 
     Component.onCompleted: {
-        Quickshell.execDetached(["mkdir", "-p", greetCfgDir]);
         loadMemory();
         loadSessionConfig();
     }
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/assets/dms-greeter b/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/assets/dms-greeter
index 1e9ef6d2..96bddb53 100755
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/assets/dms-greeter
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Greetd/assets/dms-greeter
@@ -87,8 +87,7 @@ exec_compositor() {
         exec "$@" > >(systemd-cat -t "dms-greeter/$log_tag" -p info) 2>&1
     fi
 
-    local log_file="$CACHE_DIR/$log_tag.log"
-    exec "$@" >> "$log_file" 2>&1
+    exec "$@"
 }
 
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
@@ -180,19 +179,10 @@ export QT_WAYLAND_DISABLE_WINDOWDECORATION=1
 export EGL_PLATFORM=gbm
 export DMS_RUN_GREETER=1
 
-ensure_cache_tree() {
-    local base="$1"
-    mkdir -p "$base/.local/state" "$base/.local/state/wireplumber" "$base/.local/share" "$base/.cache"
-}
-
-if ! ensure_cache_tree "$CACHE_DIR" 2>/dev/null; then
-    FALLBACK_CACHE_DIR="/tmp/dms-greeter-${UID:-$(id -u)}"
-    echo "Warning: cache directory '$CACHE_DIR' is not writable; falling back to '$FALLBACK_CACHE_DIR'" >&2
-    CACHE_DIR="$FALLBACK_CACHE_DIR"
-    if ! ensure_cache_tree "$CACHE_DIR"; then
-        echo "Error: failed to initialize fallback cache directory '$CACHE_DIR'" >&2
-        exit 1
-    fi
+if [[ ! -d "$CACHE_DIR" ]]; then
+    echo "Error: cache directory '$CACHE_DIR' does not exist." >&2
+    echo "  Run 'dms greeter sync' to initialize it, or pass --cache-dir to an existing directory." >&2
+    exit 1
 fi
 
 export DMS_GREET_CFG_DIR="$CACHE_DIR"