diff --git a/lib/Controller/OtherController.php b/lib/Controller/OtherController.php
index 673779f6..3f5328f5 100644
--- a/lib/Controller/OtherController.php
+++ b/lib/Controller/OtherController.php
@@ -81,8 +81,6 @@ class OtherController extends GenericApiController
                 return $this->config->getUserValue($uid, Application::APPNAME, $key, $default);
             };
 
-            $defaultTimelinePath = $this->config->getSystemValue('memories.default_timeline_path', 'EMPTY');
-
             return new JSONResponse([
                 // general stuff
                 'version' => $version,
@@ -100,7 +98,7 @@ class OtherController extends GenericApiController
                 'preview_generator_enabled' => Util::previewGeneratorIsEnabled(),
 
                 // general settings
-                'timeline_path' => $getAppConfig('timelinePath', $defaultTimelinePath),
+                'timeline_path' => $getAppConfig('timelinePath', Util::getSystemConfig('memories.timeline.default_path')),
                 'enable_top_memories' => 'true' === $getAppConfig('enableTopMemories', 'true'),
 
                 // viewer settings
diff --git a/lib/SystemConfigDefault.php b/lib/SystemConfigDefault.php
index d5f3cbe6..c3285ca5 100644
--- a/lib/SystemConfigDefault.php
+++ b/lib/SystemConfigDefault.php
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ return [
     // Places database type identifier
     'memories.gis_type' => -1,
 
+    // Default timeline path for all users
+    // If set to '_empty_', the user is prompted to select a path on first open (default)
+    'memories.timeline.default_path' => '_empty_',
+
     // Default viewer high resolution image loading condition
     // Valid values: 'always' | 'zoom' | 'never'
     'memories.viewer.high_res_cond_default' => 'zoom',
@@ -70,9 +74,6 @@ return [
     // 1080 => 1080p (and so on)
     'memories.video_default_quality' => '0',
 
-    // Default timeline path for all users; if not set, default is '/Photos'
-    'memories.default_timeline_path' => 'Photos/',
-
     // Memories only provides an admin interface for these
     // https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/configuration_server/config_sample_php_parameters.html#previews
     'enabledPreviewProviders' => [],
diff --git a/lib/Util.php b/lib/Util.php
index 6cfc05a4..28f59317 100644
--- a/lib/Util.php
+++ b/lib/Util.php
@@ -316,8 +316,8 @@ class Util
     public static function getTimelinePaths(string $uid): array
     {
         $config = \OC::$server->get(IConfig::class);
-        $defaultTimelinePath = self::getSystemConfig('memories.default_timeline_path');
-        $paths = $config->getUserValue($uid, Application::APPNAME, 'timelinePath', null) ?? $defaultTimelinePath;
+        $paths = $config->getUserValue($uid, Application::APPNAME, 'timelinePath', null)
+            ?? self::getSystemConfig('memories.timeline.default_path');
 
         return array_map(static fn ($p) => self::sanitizePath(trim($p)), explode(';', $paths));
     }
diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index 73206247..fba4d74a 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
   <NcContent
     app-name="memories"
-    v-else
+    v-else-if="!isConfigUnknown"
     :class="{
       'remove-gap': removeOuterGap,
       'has-nav': showNavigation,
@@ -187,7 +187,11 @@ export default defineComponent({
     },
 
     isFirstStart(): boolean {
-      return this.config.timeline_path === 'EMPTY' && !this.routeIsPublic && !this.$route.query.noinit;
+      return this.config.timeline_path === '_empty_' && !this.routeIsPublic && !this.$route.query.noinit;
+    },
+
+    isConfigUnknown(): boolean {
+      return this.config.timeline_path === '_unknown_';
     },
 
     showAlbums(): boolean {
diff --git a/src/services/static-config.ts b/src/services/static-config.ts
index 47ce1132..1f95ba48 100644
--- a/src/services/static-config.ts
+++ b/src/services/static-config.ts
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class StaticConfig {
       preview_generator_enabled: false,
 
       // general settings
-      timeline_path: '',
+      timeline_path: '_unknown_',
       enable_top_memories: true,
 
       // viewer settings