diff --git a/modules/wifi/wifi_recon_handshakes.go b/modules/wifi/wifi_recon_handshakes.go
index ac5b52dd..5b949231 100644
--- a/modules/wifi/wifi_recon_handshakes.go
+++ b/modules/wifi/wifi_recon_handshakes.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
+	"os"
 	"path"
 
 	"github.com/bettercap/bettercap/v2/network"
@@ -27,6 +28,11 @@ func (mod *WiFiModule) getHandshakeFileFor(ap *network.AccessPoint) string {
 	shakesFileName := mod.shakesFile
 	if !mod.shakesAggregate {
 		parentDir := path.Dir(shakesFileName)
+		// check for existing directory at "shakesFileName" for backwards compatibility
+                fileInfo, err := os.Stat(shakesFileName)
+                if (err == nil) && (fileInfo.IsDir()) {
+			parentDir = shakesFileName
+		}
 		shakesFileName = path.Join(parentDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.pcap", ap.PathFriendlyName()))
 	}
 	return shakesFileName