diff --git a/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp b/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp
index 96c3f93..dbe1f90 100644
--- a/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp
+++ b/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp
@@ -359,12 +359,20 @@ QVariantMap BlockchainBackend::generateConfig(
 
     QVariantMap normalized;
 
-    QString out = outputPath.trimmed();
-    if (out.isEmpty())
-        out = generatedUserConfigPath();
-    else
-        out = toLocalPath(out);
-    normalized.insert("output", out);
+    // The output path drives persistence routing through the module's single
+    // switch (use_persistence_paths), which routes output + state + storage +
+    // logs under the host-provisioned per-instance dir:
+    //   - empty    → omit "output"; module writes "<persistence>/user_config.yaml".
+    //   - relative → pass it through; module resolves it under <persistence>.
+    //   - absolute → write exactly there; no persistence routing.
+    const QString rawOut = outputPath.trimmed();
+    const QString localOut = rawOut.isEmpty() ? QString() : toLocalPath(rawOut);
+    const QString chosenOut = !localOut.isEmpty() ? localOut : rawOut;
+    const bool absoluteOut = !chosenOut.isEmpty() && QDir::isAbsolutePath(chosenOut);
+    if (!rawOut.isEmpty())
+        normalized.insert("output", absoluteOut ? chosenOut : rawOut);
+    if (!absoluteOut)
+        normalized.insert("use_persistence_paths", true);
 
     if (!initialPeers.isEmpty()) {
         QVariantList peersList;
@@ -396,6 +404,8 @@ QVariantMap BlockchainBackend::generateConfig(
                           toLocalPath(deploymentConfigPath.trimmed()));
         normalized.insert("deployment", deployment);
     }
+    // An explicit node state dir still wins: the module leaves a pinned path
+    // untouched even when use_persistence_paths routing is on.
     if (!statePath.trimmed().isEmpty())
         normalized.insert("state_path", toLocalPath(statePath.trimmed()));
 
diff --git a/src/qml/BlockchainView.qml b/src/qml/BlockchainView.qml
index 6656a5d..fdd8543 100644
--- a/src/qml/BlockchainView.qml
+++ b/src/qml/BlockchainView.qml
@@ -273,13 +273,20 @@ Rectangle {
                                     ? qsTr("Config generated successfully.")
                                     : qsTr("Generate failed: %1").arg(result.error)
                             if (result.success) {
-                                root.backend.userConfig = (outputPath !== "")
-                                    ? outputPath : root.backend.generatedUserConfigPath
+                                // The module writes the config and returns the
+                                // absolute path it used; use that for start().
+                                root.backend.userConfig =
+                                    (result.value !== undefined && result.value !== "")
+                                        ? result.value
+                                        : (outputPath !== "" ? outputPath : root.backend.generatedUserConfigPath)
                                 root.backend.deploymentConfig =
                                     (deploymentMode === 1 && deploymentConfigPath !== "")
                                         ? deploymentConfigPath : ""
                                 root.backend.useGeneratedConfig = true
-                                _d.currentPage = 1
+                                // Finalize: move to the "set path" window, now
+                                // showing the resolved config path, ready for
+                                // the user to continue and start the node.
+                                configChoiceView.showSetConfigPath()
                             }
                         },
                         function(error) {
diff --git a/src/qml/views/ConfigChoiceView.qml b/src/qml/views/ConfigChoiceView.qml
index 8c4fbd0..7620c55 100644
--- a/src/qml/views/ConfigChoiceView.qml
+++ b/src/qml/views/ConfigChoiceView.qml
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ ColumnLayout {
         property int selectedOption: 0
     }
 
+    // Switch to the "set path to config" sub-view. Used after a successful
+    // generate to land on the resolved-config-path screen, from which the user
+    // continues to start the node.
+    function showSetConfigPath() { d.selectedOption = 2 }
+
     spacing: Theme.spacing.large
 
     LogosText {
diff --git a/src/qml/views/GenerateConfigView.qml b/src/qml/views/GenerateConfigView.qml
index 5adb508..80572bb 100644
--- a/src/qml/views/GenerateConfigView.qml
+++ b/src/qml/views/GenerateConfigView.qml
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import QtCore
 import Logos.Theme
 import Logos.Controls
 
+import "../controls"
+
 ColumnLayout {
     id: root
 
@@ -17,10 +19,9 @@ ColumnLayout {
     signal generateRequested(string outputPath, var initialPeers, int netPort, int blendPort, string httpAddr, string externalAddress, bool noPublicIpCheck, int deploymentMode, string deploymentConfigPath, string statePath)
 
 
-    Component.onCompleted: {
-        if (outputField.text === "" && root.generatedUserConfigPath !== "")
-            outputField.text = root.generatedUserConfigPath
-    }
+    // Leave the output field empty by default: the module writes the config to
+    // its own host-provisioned writable location and returns that path. A user
+    // can still type/browse an explicit path to override.
 
     QtObject {
         id: d
@@ -64,12 +65,21 @@ ColumnLayout {
         LogosTextField {
             id: outputField
             Layout.fillWidth: true
-            placeholderText: root.generatedUserConfigPath || qsTr("Output config path (e.g. node_config.yaml)")
+            placeholderText: qsTr("Output config path (optional — defaults to module data dir)")
         }
         LogosButton {
             text: qsTr("Browse…")
             onClicked: outputFolderDialog.open()
         }
+        InfoButton {
+            text: qsTr("Leave empty (or use a relative path) to let the module store the "
+                       + "config and node state in its own per-instance data directory — "
+                       + "the safe default.\n\n"
+                       + "Enter a full absolute path only to write the config there yourself. "
+                       + "Note: depending on where the app runs (e.g. embedded in Basecamp, "
+                       + "sandboxed, or read-only locations) an arbitrary absolute path may not "
+                       + "be writable and starting the node can fail.")
+        }
     }
 
     // Initial peers (multi-line)