diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9bc6cb2..e2f3d5f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 .PHONY: dev backend frontend app electron electron-package test smoke build run lint setup reset_db sync_bots --include-llm-call-details
 
 ELECTRON_DETAIL_ARGS := $(if $(filter --include-llm-call-details,$(MAKECMDGOALS)),--include-llm-call-details,)
+ELECTRON_ROOT_ARGS := $(if $(ROOT_DIRECTORY),--root-directory "$(ROOT_DIRECTORY)",)
 
 setup:          ## install backend and frontend dependencies, create .env from the template
 	cd backend && uv sync
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ frontend:       ## Vite dev server, proxies /api to the backend
 	cd frontend && pnpm dev
 
 electron:       ## launch Electron with a Vite frontend and dedicated backend on :8001 (override ELECTRON_BACKEND_PORT)
-	./scripts/electron-dev.sh $(ELECTRON_DETAIL_ARGS)
+	./scripts/electron-dev.sh $(ELECTRON_DETAIL_ARGS) $(ELECTRON_ROOT_ARGS)
 
 app:            ## alias for `make electron`; starts the Electron frontend and backend together
 	$(MAKE) electron
diff --git a/backend/openbot/cli.py b/backend/openbot/cli.py
index 31c45cf..ff7b916 100644
--- a/backend/openbot/cli.py
+++ b/backend/openbot/cli.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 def main() -> None:
     args, uvicorn_args = _parse_args()
     _apply_detail_setting(args)
+    if args.root_directory:
+        os.environ["OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY"] = args.root_directory
     uvicorn.run("openbot.main:app", **_uvicorn_options(uvicorn_args))
 
 
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ def _parse_args(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> tuple[argparse.Namespace, list
                          help="include per-model-call token details in activity events")
     details.add_argument("--exclude-llm-call-details", action="store_true",
                          help="omit per-model-call token details from activity events")
+    parser.add_argument("--root-directory", help="root directory for default workspace and database paths")
     return parser.parse_known_args(argv)
 
 
diff --git a/backend/openbot/config.py b/backend/openbot/config.py
index 3e992fb..293e53d 100644
--- a/backend/openbot/config.py
+++ b/backend/openbot/config.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Annotated
 
-from pydantic import Field, field_validator
+from pydantic import Field, field_validator, model_validator
 from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings, NoDecode, SettingsConfigDict
 
 # Shared regex for validating Telegram Bot API tokens (format: <bot_id>:<token>).
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     model_config = SettingsConfigDict(env_file=(".env", "../.env"), env_file_encoding="utf-8", extra="ignore")
 
     database_url: str = "sqlite+aiosqlite:///./.openbot/openbot.db"
+    root_directory: Path | None = Field(default=None, validation_alias="OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY")
     openbot_api_key: str | None = None
 
     openai_api_key: str | None = None
@@ -88,6 +89,18 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     telegram_webhook_secret: str | None = None
     telegram_transport: str = "long_polling"  # "long_polling" or "webhook"
 
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def _apply_root_directory_defaults(self):
+        """Use a caller-supplied root for defaults without overriding explicit settings."""
+        if self.root_directory is None:
+            return self
+        root = Path(self.root_directory)
+        if "workspace_root" not in self.model_fields_set:
+            self.workspace_root = root
+        if "database_url" not in self.model_fields_set:
+            self.database_url = f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{root / '.openbot' / 'openbot.db'}"
+        return self
+
     @field_validator("cors_origins", "webhook_retry_delays", "openrouter_provider_order", mode="before")
     @classmethod
     def _split_csv(cls, v):
diff --git a/backend/openbot/runtime/actors.py b/backend/openbot/runtime/actors.py
index 5b7e60e..e144fce 100644
--- a/backend/openbot/runtime/actors.py
+++ b/backend/openbot/runtime/actors.py
@@ -473,10 +473,13 @@ async def cancel_run(self, run_id: str) -> bool:
         if run is None:
             return False
         for w in self._workers.values():
-            if isinstance(w, BotActor) and w.current_run_id == run_id and w.current_task:
+            if not isinstance(w, BotActor) or w.current_run_id != run_id:
+                continue
+            task = w.current_task
+            if task is not None:
                 await activity.record(self.s, "run.cancel_requested", level="warning", thread_id=run.thread_id,
                                       actor_id=run.actor_id, run_id=run_id, summary="cancelling the live run", live=True)
-                w.current_task.cancel()
+                task.cancel()
                 return True
         async with self.s.session_factory() as session:
             run = await session.get(Run, run_id)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_config.py b/backend/tests/test_config.py
index fbe7576..e79ac33 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_config.py
@@ -71,6 +71,54 @@ def test_database_url_override_is_preserved(monkeypatch):
     assert settings.database_url == override
 
 
+def test_root_directory_sets_default_workspace_and_database(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY", str(tmp_path))
+    monkeypatch.delenv("WORKSPACE_ROOT", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.delenv("DATABASE_URL", raising=False)
+    settings = Settings(_env_file=None)
+    assert settings.workspace_root == tmp_path
+    assert settings.database_url == f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{tmp_path / '.openbot' / 'openbot.db'}"
+
+
+def test_root_directory_preserves_explicit_workspace_and_database(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    workspace = tmp_path / "workspace"
+    database = tmp_path / "custom.db"
+    monkeypatch.setenv("OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY", str(tmp_path))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("WORKSPACE_ROOT", str(workspace))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("DATABASE_URL", f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{database}")
+    settings = Settings(_env_file=None)
+    assert settings.workspace_root == workspace
+    assert settings.database_url == f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{database}"
+
+
+def test_root_directory_preserves_explicit_workspace_equal_to_default(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY", str(tmp_path))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("WORKSPACE_ROOT", "./workspace")
+    monkeypatch.delenv("DATABASE_URL", raising=False)
+    settings = Settings(_env_file=None)
+    assert settings.workspace_root == Path("workspace")
+    assert settings.database_url == f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{tmp_path / '.openbot' / 'openbot.db'}"
+
+
+def test_root_directory_preserves_explicit_database_equal_to_default(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    default_database = "sqlite+aiosqlite:///./.openbot/openbot.db"
+    monkeypatch.setenv("OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY", str(tmp_path))
+    monkeypatch.delenv("WORKSPACE_ROOT", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("DATABASE_URL", default_database)
+    settings = Settings(_env_file=None)
+    assert settings.workspace_root == tmp_path
+    assert settings.database_url == default_database
+
+
+def test_without_root_directory_defaults_are_unchanged(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.delenv("OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.delenv("WORKSPACE_ROOT", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.delenv("DATABASE_URL", raising=False)
+    settings = Settings(_env_file=None)
+    assert settings.workspace_root == Path("./workspace")
+    assert settings.database_url == "sqlite+aiosqlite:///./.openbot/openbot.db"
+
+
 
 def test_sqlite_parent_is_created_for_default_and_override(tmp_path):
     from openbot.db.session import ensure_sqlite_parent
diff --git a/frontend/electron/main.cjs b/frontend/electron/main.cjs
index bbe4902..eb4fbca 100644
--- a/frontend/electron/main.cjs
+++ b/frontend/electron/main.cjs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ function openApprovedExternal(rawUrl) { if (isApprovedExternalUrl(rawUrl)) { voi
 function startBackend() {
   if (isDevelopment || usesExternalBackend) return;
   const script = path.join(process.resourcesPath, "backend", "electron-backend.sh");
-  backendProcess = spawn("/bin/sh", [script], { detached: true, env: { ...process.env, OPENBOT_RESOURCES: process.resourcesPath, OPENBOT_USER_DATA: app.getPath("userData"), OPENBOT_BACKEND_PORT: backendPort }, stdio: "ignore" });
+  backendProcess = spawn("/bin/sh", [script], { detached: true, env: { ...process.env, OPENBOT_RESOURCES: process.resourcesPath, OPENBOT_USER_DATA: app.getPath("userData"), OPENBOT_BACKEND_PORT: backendPort, OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY: process.env.OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY }, stdio: "ignore" });
   backendProcess.unref();
   backendProcess.on("error", (error) => console.error("OpenBot backend failed to start", error));
 }
diff --git a/frontend/electron/main.test.ts b/frontend/electron/main.test.ts
index ce839d6..ad98795 100644
--- a/frontend/electron/main.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/electron/main.test.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,25 @@ describe("Electron launcher detail controls", () => {
     });
     expect(output).toContain("./scripts/electron-dev.sh --include-llm-call-details");
   });
+
+  it("forwards a caller-supplied root directory", () => {
+    expect(devScriptSource).toContain('ROOT_ARGS+=(--root-directory "$1")');
+    expect(backendScriptSource).toContain('ROOT_ARGS+=(--root-directory "$OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY")');
+    expect(mainSource).toContain("OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY: process.env.OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY");
+    const output = execFileSync("make", ["-n", "electron", "ROOT_DIRECTORY=/tmp/openbot-root"], {
+      cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, "../.."),
+      encoding: "utf8",
+    });
+    expect(output).toContain('./scripts/electron-dev.sh  --root-directory "/tmp/openbot-root"');
+  });
+
+  it("preserves root-directory argument boundaries when the path contains spaces", () => {
+    const output = execFileSync("make", ["-n", "electron", "ROOT_DIRECTORY=/tmp/openbot root"], {
+      cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, "../.."),
+      encoding: "utf8",
+    });
+    expect(output).toContain('./scripts/electron-dev.sh  --root-directory "/tmp/openbot root"');
+  });
 });
 
 describe("Electron file watching", () => {
diff --git a/scripts/electron-backend.sh b/scripts/electron-backend.sh
index 1bb1f6b..7f4d4ac 100755
--- a/scripts/electron-backend.sh
+++ b/scripts/electron-backend.sh
@@ -4,9 +4,13 @@ set -Eeuo pipefail
 PROJECT_ROOT="${OPENBOT_RESOURCES:?OPENBOT_RESOURCES is required}"
 PORT="${OPENBOT_BACKEND_PORT:-8000}"
 cd "$PROJECT_ROOT"
-mkdir -p "${OPENBOT_USER_DATA:?OPENBOT_USER_DATA is required}/workspace" "${OPENBOT_USER_DATA}/logs"
-export DATABASE_URL="${DATABASE_URL:-sqlite+aiosqlite:///${OPENBOT_USER_DATA}/openbot.db}"
-export WORKSPACE_ROOT="${WORKSPACE_ROOT:-${OPENBOT_USER_DATA}/workspace}"
+if [[ -n "${OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY:-}" ]]; then
+  mkdir -p "$OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY/.openbot" "$OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY"
+else
+  mkdir -p "${OPENBOT_USER_DATA:?OPENBOT_USER_DATA is required}/workspace" "${OPENBOT_USER_DATA}/logs"
+  export DATABASE_URL="${DATABASE_URL:-sqlite+aiosqlite:///${OPENBOT_USER_DATA}/openbot.db}"
+  export WORKSPACE_ROOT="${WORKSPACE_ROOT:-${OPENBOT_USER_DATA}/workspace}"
+fi
 export TOOLS_DIR="${TOOLS_DIR:-$PROJECT_ROOT/tools}"
 export LOG_FILE="${LOG_FILE:-${OPENBOT_USER_DATA}/logs/openbot.log}"
 # `uv run --project` otherwise builds .venv inside PROJECT_ROOT, i.e. Contents/Resources of the
@@ -44,4 +48,8 @@ DETAILS_FLAG="--exclude-llm-call-details"
 if [ "${OPENBOT_INCLUDE_LLM_CALL_DETAILS:-false}" = "true" ]; then
   DETAILS_FLAG="--include-llm-call-details"
 fi
-exec "$UV" run --project "$PROJECT_ROOT/backend" python -m openbot.cli "$DETAILS_FLAG" --host 127.0.0.1 --port "$PORT"
+ROOT_ARGS=()
+if [[ -n "${OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY:-}" ]]; then
+  ROOT_ARGS+=(--root-directory "$OPENBOT_ROOT_DIRECTORY")
+fi
+exec "$UV" run --project "$PROJECT_ROOT/backend" python -m openbot.cli "$DETAILS_FLAG" "${ROOT_ARGS[@]}" --host 127.0.0.1 --port "$PORT"
diff --git a/scripts/electron-dev.sh b/scripts/electron-dev.sh
index ac45b9f..fdf07b3 100755
--- a/scripts/electron-dev.sh
+++ b/scripts/electron-dev.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ if [[ "${1:-}" == "--include-llm-call-details" ]]; then
   DETAILS_FLAG="--include-llm-call-details"
   shift
 fi
+ROOT_ARGS=()
+if [[ -n "${1:-}" ]]; then
+  ROOT_ARGS+=(--root-directory "$1")
+  shift
+fi
 BACKEND_URL="http://localhost:${ELECTRON_BACKEND_PORT}"
 FRONTEND_URL="http://localhost:${FRONTEND_PORT}"
 
@@ -78,7 +83,7 @@ PY
 # without backend reload or Vite file watching: changes take effect after an app restart,
 # avoiding watcher activity that can freeze the UI while messages are being sent.
 echo "Starting Electron backend on ${BACKEND_URL}"
-run_in_process_group uv run --project backend python -m openbot.cli "$DETAILS_FLAG" --port "$ELECTRON_BACKEND_PORT" &
+run_in_process_group uv run --project backend python -m openbot.cli "$DETAILS_FLAG" "${ROOT_ARGS[@]}" --port "$ELECTRON_BACKEND_PORT" &
 backend_pid=$!
 
 echo "Starting Vite frontend on ${FRONTEND_URL}"