diff --git a/ChatOptions.hs b/ChatOptions.hs
index 7051796a8..c95ddea85 100644
--- a/ChatOptions.hs
+++ b/ChatOptions.hs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import qualified Data.Attoparsec.ByteString.Char8 as A
 import qualified Data.ByteString.Char8 as B
 import Options.Applicative
 import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Transmission (SMPServer (..), smpServerP)
+import System.FilePath (combine)
 import Types
 
 data ChatOpts = ChatOpts
@@ -15,8 +16,9 @@ data ChatOpts = ChatOpts
     termMode :: TermMode
   }
 
-chatOpts :: Parser ChatOpts
-chatOpts =
+chatOpts :: FilePath -> Parser ChatOpts
+chatOpts appDir = do
+  let defaultDbFilePath = combine appDir "smp-chat.db"
   ChatOpts
     <$> option
       (Just <$> str)
@@ -30,8 +32,8 @@ chatOpts =
       ( long "database"
           <> short 'd'
           <> metavar "DB_FILE"
-          <> help "sqlite database filename (smp-chat.db)"
-          <> value "smp-chat.db"
+          <> help ("sqlite database file path (" ++ defaultDbFilePath ++ ")")
+          <> value defaultDbFilePath
       )
     <*> option
       parseSMPServer
@@ -60,12 +62,12 @@ parseTermMode = maybeReader $ \case
   "editor" -> Just TermModeEditor
   _ -> Nothing
 
-getChatOpts :: IO ChatOpts
-getChatOpts = execParser opts
+getChatOpts :: FilePath -> IO ChatOpts
+getChatOpts appDir = execParser opts
   where
     opts =
       info
-        (chatOpts <**> helper)
+        (chatOpts appDir <**> helper)
         ( fullDesc
             <> header "Chat prototype using Simplex Messaging Protocol (SMP)"
             <> progDesc "Start chat with DB_FILE file and use SERVER as SMP server"
diff --git a/Main.hs b/Main.hs
index d93094565..4c1f87abb 100644
--- a/Main.hs
+++ b/Main.hs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Env.SQLite
 import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Transmission
 import Simplex.Messaging.Client (smpDefaultConfig)
 import Simplex.Messaging.Util (bshow, raceAny_)
+import System.Directory (getAppUserDataDirectory)
 import Types
 
 cfg :: AgentConfig
@@ -116,8 +117,11 @@ chatHelpInfo =
 
 main :: IO ()
 main = do
-  ChatOpts {dbFileName, smpServer, name, termMode} <- getChatOpts
-  putStrLn "simpleX chat prototype, \"/help\" for usage information"
+  appDir <- getAppUserDataDirectory "simplex"
+  ChatOpts {dbFileName, smpServer, name, termMode} <- getChatOpts appDir
+  putStrLn "simpleX chat prototype"
+  putStrLn $ "db: " ++ dbFileName
+  putStrLn "type \"/help\" for usage information"
   let user = Contact <$> name
   t <- getChatClient smpServer user
   ct <- newChatTerminal (tbqSize cfg) user termMode