diff --git a/post-install.js b/post-install.js
index 2797812e7..3b07be687 100644
--- a/post-install.js
+++ b/post-install.js
@@ -2,8 +2,32 @@
  * Scripts to be done before starting the server for the first time.
  */
 const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
 const crypto = require('crypto');
 
+/**
+ * Creates the default config files if they don't exist yet.
+ */
+function createDefaultFiles() {
+    const files = {
+        settings: './public/settings.json',
+        bg_load: './public/css/bg_load.css',
+        config: './config.conf',
+    };
+
+    for (const file of Object.values(files)) {
+        try {
+            if (!fs.existsSync(file)) {
+                const defaultFilePath = path.join('./default', path.parse(file).base);
+                fs.copyFileSync(defaultFilePath, file);
+                console.log(`Created default file: ${file}`);
+            }
+        } catch (error) {
+            console.error(`FATAL: Could not write default file: ${file}`, error);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns the MD5 hash of the given data.
  * @param {Buffer} data Input data
@@ -48,7 +72,9 @@ function copyWasmFiles() {
 }
 
 try {
-    // 1. Copy transformers WASM binaries from node_modules
+    // 1. Create default config files
+    createDefaultFiles();
+    // 2. Copy transformers WASM binaries from node_modules
     copyWasmFiles();
 } catch (error) {
     console.error(error);
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index d0cb96d0e..1fe1077ac 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ const _ = require('lodash');
 util.inspect.defaultOptions.maxArrayLength = null;
 util.inspect.defaultOptions.maxStringLength = null;
 
-// Create files before running anything else
-createDefaultFiles();
-
 // local library imports
 const basicAuthMiddleware = require('./src/middleware/basicAuthMiddleware');
 const characterCardParser = require('./src/character-card-parser.js');
@@ -73,26 +70,6 @@ const statsHelpers = require('./statsHelpers.js');
 const { writeSecret, readSecret, readSecretState, migrateSecrets, SECRET_KEYS, getAllSecrets } = require('./src/secrets');
 const { delay, getVersion } = require('./src/util');
 
-function createDefaultFiles() {
-    const files = {
-        settings: 'public/settings.json',
-        bg_load: 'public/css/bg_load.css',
-        config: 'config.conf',
-    };
-
-    for (const file of Object.values(files)) {
-        try {
-            if (!fs.existsSync(file)) {
-                const defaultFilePath = path.join('default', path.parse(file).base);
-                fs.copyFileSync(defaultFilePath, file);
-                console.log(`Created default file: ${file}`);
-            }
-        } catch (error) {
-            console.error(`FATAL: Could not write default file: ${file}`, error);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 // Work around a node v20.0.0, v20.1.0, and v20.2.0 bug. The issue was fixed in v20.3.0.
 // https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/47822#issuecomment-1564708870
 // Safe to remove once support for Node v20 is dropped.