diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileReadingMessageSource.java b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileReadingMessageSource.java
index 55c961457e..c64bac5ffe 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileReadingMessageSource.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileReadingMessageSource.java
@@ -106,13 +106,19 @@ public class FileReadingMessageSource implements MessageSource<File>, Initializi
 	 * Specify the input directory.
 	 */
 	public void setInputDirectory(Resource inputDirectory) {
-		Assert.notNull(inputDirectory, "inputDirectory cannot be null");
+		Assert.notNull(inputDirectory, "inputDirectory must not be null");
 		try {
 			this.inputDirectory = inputDirectory.getFile();
 		}
-		catch (IOException e) {
-			throw new IllegalArgumentException(
+		catch (IOException ioe) {
+			try {
+				// fallback to the URI
+				this.inputDirectory = new File(inputDirectory.getURI());
+			}
+			catch (Exception e) {
+				throw new IllegalArgumentException(
 					"Unexpected IOException when looking for source directory: " + inputDirectory, e);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileWritingMessageHandler.java b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileWritingMessageHandler.java
index e26c8e9c5f..11470c1809 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileWritingMessageHandler.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/FileWritingMessageHandler.java
@@ -77,13 +77,22 @@ public class FileWritingMessageHandler extends AbstractReplyProducingMessageHand
 
 
 	public FileWritingMessageHandler(Resource destinationDirectory) {
+		Assert.notNull(destinationDirectory, "Destination directory must not be null.");
+		File dir = null;
 		try {
-			this.destinationDirectory = destinationDirectory.getFile();
+			dir = destinationDirectory.getFile();
 		}
-		catch (IOException e) {
-			throw new IllegalArgumentException(
+		catch (IOException ioe) {
+			try {
+				// fallback to the URI
+				dir = new File(destinationDirectory.getURI());
+			}
+			catch (Exception e) {
+				throw new IllegalArgumentException(
 					"Unexpected IOException when looking for destination directory: " + destinationDirectory, e);
+			}
 		}
+		this.destinationDirectory = dir;
 	}