diff --git a/.release b/.release
index 4c43b882a..f98ff443b 100644
--- a/.release
+++ b/.release
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v23.0.7
\ No newline at end of file
+v23.0.8
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8e6dc619a..092917941 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ The GUI allows you to set the training parameters and generate and run the requi
     - [No module called tkinter](#no-module-called-tkinter)
   - [SDXL training](#sdxl-training)
   - [Change History](#change-history)
+    - [2024/03/11 (v23.0.8)](#20240311-v2308)
     - [2024/03/11 (v23.0.7)](#20240311-v2307)
     - [2024/03/11 (v23.0.6)](#20240311-v2306)
     - [2024/03/11 (v23.0.5)](#20240311-v2305)
@@ -366,6 +367,10 @@ The documentation in this section will be moved to a separate document later.
 
 ## Change History
 
+### 2024/03/11 (v23.0.8)
+
+- Add the ability to create outout and logs folder if it does not exist
+
 ### 2024/03/11 (v23.0.7)
 
 - Fix minor issues related to functions and file path
diff --git a/kohya_gui/common_gui.py b/kohya_gui/common_gui.py
index 12f2d8347..1357bd8ed 100644
--- a/kohya_gui/common_gui.py
+++ b/kohya_gui/common_gui.py
@@ -1321,9 +1321,16 @@ def validate_paths(headless:bool = False, **kwargs):
 
     if output_dir != None:
         log.info(f"Validating output folder path {output_dir} existence...")
-        if output_dir == "" or not os.path.exists(output_dir):
-            log.error("...output folder path is missing or invalid")
+        if output_dir == "":
+            log.error("...output folder path is missing")
             return False
+        elif not os.path.exists(output_dir):
+            try:
+                os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)  # Create the directory, no error if it already exists
+                log.info(f"...created folder at {output_dir}")
+            except Exception as e:
+                log.error(f"...failed to create output folder: {e}")
+                return False
         else:
             log.info("...valid")
             
@@ -1331,8 +1338,12 @@ def validate_paths(headless:bool = False, **kwargs):
         if logging_dir != "":
             log.info(f"Validating logging folder path {logging_dir} existence...")
             if not os.path.exists(logging_dir):
-                log.error("...logging folder path is missing or invalid")
-                return False
+                try:
+                    os.makedirs(logging_dir, exist_ok=True)  # Create the directory, no error if it already exists
+                    log.info(f"...created folder at {logging_dir}")
+                except Exception as e:
+                    log.error(f"...failed to create logging folder: {e}")
+                    return False
             else:
                 log.info("...valid")
         else: