diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c1061c4838c..1ced025a0e6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -149,4 +149,4 @@ prof/
 
 # outputs from make
 .stack-*.yml
-services/catalog/log.txt
+services/web/server/tests/data/static/resource/statics.json
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/statics.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/statics.py
index 85dfc53383c..96b0e01093c 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/statics.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/statics.py
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@
 import json
 import logging
 import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Set
 
 from aiohttp import web
 
@@ -17,24 +20,30 @@
 from servicelib.application_setup import ModuleCategory, app_module_setup
 
 INDEX_RESOURCE_NAME = "statics.index"
+TMPDIR_KEY = f"{__name__}.tmpdir"
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__file__)
 
 
 def get_client_outdir(app: web.Application) -> Path:
     cfg = app[APP_CONFIG_KEY]["main"]
-
-    # pylint 2.3.0 produces 'E1101: Instance of 'Path' has no 'expanduser' member (no-member)' ONLY
-    # with the installed code and not with the development code!
-    client_dir = Path(cfg["client_outdir"]).expanduser()  # pylint: disable=E1101
+    client_dir = Path(cfg["client_outdir"]).expanduser()
     if not client_dir.exists():
-        txt = reason = "Front-end application is not available"
-        if cfg["testing"]:
-            reason = "Invalid client source path: %s" % client_dir
-        raise web.HTTPServiceUnavailable(reason=reason, text=txt)
+        tmp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(suffix="client_outdir")
+        log.error(
+            "Invalid client source path [%s]. Defaulting to %s", client_dir, tmp_dir
+        )
+        client_dir = tmp_dir
+        app[TMPDIR_KEY] = tmp_dir
     return client_dir
 
 
+async def _delete_tmps(app: web.Application):
+    tmp_dir = app.get(TMPDIR_KEY)
+    if tmp_dir:
+        shutil.rmtree(tmp_dir, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
 async def index(request: web.Request):
     """
         Serves boot application under index
@@ -46,46 +55,47 @@ async def index(request: web.Request):
         return web.Response(text=ofh.read(), content_type="text/html")
 
 
-def write_statics_file(directory):
+def write_statics_file(directory: Path) -> None:
+    # ensures directory exists
+    os.makedirs(directory, exist_ok=True)
+
+    # create statis fiel
     statics = {}
     statics["stackName"] = os.environ.get("SWARM_STACK_NAME")
     statics["buildDate"] = os.environ.get("BUILD_DATE")
-    with open(directory / "statics.json", "w") as statics_file:
-        json.dump(statics, statics_file)
+    with open(directory / "statics.json", "wt") as fh:
+        json.dump(statics, fh)
 
 
 @app_module_setup(__name__, ModuleCategory.SYSTEM, logger=log)
 def setup_statics(app: web.Application):
-    # TODO: Should serving front-end ria be configurable?
-    # Front-end Rich Interface Application (RIA)
-    try:
-        outdir = get_client_outdir(app)
-
-        # Checks integrity of RIA source before serving
-        EXPECTED_FOLDERS = ("osparc", "resource", "transpiled")
-        folders = [x for x in outdir.iterdir() if x.is_dir()]
-
-        for name in EXPECTED_FOLDERS:
-            folder_names = [path.name for path in folders]
-            if name not in folder_names:
-                raise web.HTTPServiceUnavailable(
-                    reason="Invalid front-end source-output folders"
-                    " Expected %s, got %s in %s"
-                    % (EXPECTED_FOLDERS, folder_names, outdir),
-                    text="Front-end application is not available",
-                )
-
-        # TODO: map ui to /ui or create an alias!?
-        app.router.add_get("/", index, name=INDEX_RESOURCE_NAME)
-
-        # NOTE: source-output and build-output have both the same subfolder structure
-        # TODO: check whether this can be done at oncen
-        for path in folders:
-            app.router.add_static("/" + path.name, path)
-
-        # Create statics file
-        write_statics_file(outdir / "resource")
-
-    except web.HTTPServiceUnavailable as ex:
-        log.exception(ex.text)
-        return
+    # Serves Front-end Rich Interface Application (RIA)
+    app.router.add_get("/", index, name=INDEX_RESOURCE_NAME)
+
+    # NOTE: source-output and build-output have both the same subfolder structure
+    outdir: Path = get_client_outdir(app)
+
+    # Create statics file
+    write_statics_file(outdir / "resource")
+
+    required_dirs = ["osparc", "resource", "transpiled"]
+    folders = [x for x in outdir.iterdir() if x.is_dir()]
+
+    # Checks integrity of RIA source before serving and warn!
+    for name in required_dirs:
+        folder_names = [path.name for path in folders]
+        if name not in folder_names:
+            log.warning(
+                "Missing folders: expected %s, got %s in %s",
+                required_dirs,
+                folder_names,
+                outdir,
+            )
+
+    # Add static routes
+    folders: Set[Path] = set(folders).union([outdir / name for name in required_dirs])
+    for path in folders:
+        app.router.add_static("/" + path.name, path)
+
+    # cleanup
+    app.on_cleanup.append(_delete_tmps)