diff --git a/src/server/simpleslave.c b/src/server/simpleslave.c
--- a/src/server/simpleslave.c
+++ b/src/server/simpleslave.c
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
   char *urltoOutput;   /* Full URL where output is posted */
   char *pathtoOutput;  /* Full path to the output (rendered) file */
+  char *pathtoOutdir;  /* Full path to output directory */
 
   char *pathtoJob; /* Path to job data folder */
   char *pathtoJobfile; /* Full path to the job's main file */
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
         fprintf(stderr, "Preparing to render frame %d in job %d\n", framenum, jobnum);
 
-        prepareJobPaths(jobnum, framenum, outputExt, datadir, &urltoTar, &pathtoTar, &pathtoJob, &pathtoJobfile, &urltoOutput, &pathtoOutput);
+        prepareJobPaths(jobnum, framenum, outputExt, datadir, &urltoTar, &pathtoTar, &pathtoJob, &pathtoJobfile, &urltoOutput, &pathtoOutput, &pathtoOutdir);
         // free(outputExt);
         int dlret = downloadTar(urltoTar, pathtoTar);
         if(dlret == 0)
@@ -151,13 +152,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
         unpackJob(pathtoJob, pathtoTar);
 
-        /* Execute blender */
-        fprintf(stderr,"Executing blender on file %s", pathtoJobfile);
+        /* ignore return because directory may exist already */
+        fprintf(stderr,"Creating output directory %s\n", pathtoOutdir);
+        mkdir(pathtoOutdir, 0700);
+        fprintf(stderr,"Marking frame started on server... ");
+        _web_startframe(slavekey, password, jobnum, framenum);
 
-        /* ignore return because directory may exist already */
-        mkdir(pathtoOutput, 0700);
+        /* Execute blender */
+        fprintf(stderr,"Executing blender on file %s\n", pathtoJobfile);
+        fprintf(stderr,"Directing output to file %s\n", pathtoOutput);
 
-        _web_startframe(slavekey, password, jobnum, framenum);
         if(exec_blender(pathtoJobfile, pathtoOutput, framenum))
           {
             fprintf(stderr,"Error running Blender. Check your installation and/or your PATH.\n");
@@ -165,15 +169,23 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
           }
         free(pathtoJobfile);
 
-        /* Post-execution */
-        fprintf(stderr, "Finished frame %d in job %d, uploading...\n", framenum, jobnum);
-        uploadOutput(pathtoOutput, urltoOutput, jobnum, framenum, slavekey); // @TODO: Handle return value
+        struct stat buffer;
+        int fstatus = stat(pathtoOutput, &buffer);
+        if(fstatus == -1){
+          fprintf(stderr,"Frame was not rendered correctly! Scene may not have camera, or your blender installation is not working.\n");
+          return 1;
+        }
+        else{
+          /* Post-execution */
+          fprintf(stderr, "Finished frame %d in job %d, uploading...\n", framenum, jobnum);
+          uploadOutput(pathtoOutput, urltoOutput, jobnum, framenum, slavekey); // @TODO: Handle return value
 
-        free(urltoOutput);
-        free(pathtoOutput);
+          free(urltoOutput);
+          free(pathtoOutput);
 
-        // Tell the server that rendering and upload are complete
-	_web_finishframe(slavekey, password, jobnum, framenum);
+          // Tell the server that rendering and upload are complete
+          _web_finishframe(slavekey, password, jobnum, framenum);
+        }
       }
     else
       fprintf(stderr,"Nothing to do. Idling...\n");