diff --git a/kalite/topic_tools/__init__.py b/kalite/topic_tools/__init__.py
index 225e3b185e..ef9561bb3b 100644
--- a/kalite/topic_tools/__init__.py
+++ b/kalite/topic_tools/__init__.py
@@ -46,6 +46,15 @@
     logging.warning("Channel {channel} does not exist.".format(channel=django_settings.CHANNEL))
 
 
+def cache_file_path(basename):
+    """Consistently return path for a cache filename. This path has to be
+    writable for the user running kalite."""
+    assert "/" not in basename, "Please use a valid filename"
+    cache_dir = os.path.join(django_settings.USER_DATA_ROOT, 'cache')
+    os.makedirs(cache_dir)
+    return os.path.join(cache_dir, basename + '.json')
+
+
 # Globals that can be filled
 TOPICS = None
 CACHE_VARS.append("TOPICS")
@@ -75,7 +84,11 @@ def get_topic_tree(force=False, annotate=False, channel=None, language=None, par
 
     if annotate:
         if settings.DO_NOT_RELOAD_CONTENT_CACHE_AT_STARTUP and not force:
-            topics = softload_json(settings.TOPICS_FILEPATHS.get(channel) + "_" + language + ".cache", logger=logging.debug, raises=False)
+            topics = softload_json(
+                cache_file_path("topic_{0}_{1}.json".format(channel, language)),
+                logger=logging.debug,
+                raises=False
+            )
             if topics:
                 TOPICS[channel][language] = topics
                 return TOPICS[channel][language]
@@ -130,7 +143,7 @@ def recurse_nodes(node, parent=""):
 
         if settings.DO_NOT_RELOAD_CONTENT_CACHE_AT_STARTUP:
             try:
-                with open(settings.TOPICS_FILEPATHS.get(channel) + "_" + language + ".cache", "w") as f:
+                with open(cache_file_path("topic_{0}_{1}.json".format(channel, language)), "w") as f:
                     json.dump(TOPICS[channel][language], f)
             except IOError as e:
                 logging.warn("Annotated topic cache file failed in saving with error {e}".format(e=e))
@@ -168,12 +181,18 @@ def get_exercise_cache(force=False, language=None):
         EXERCISES = {}
     if EXERCISES.get(language) is None:
         if settings.DO_NOT_RELOAD_CONTENT_CACHE_AT_STARTUP and not force:
-            exercises = softload_json(settings.EXERCISES_FILEPATH + "_" + language + ".cache", logger=logging.debug, raises=False)
+            exercises = softload_json(
+                cache_file_path("exercises_{1}.json".format(language)),
+                logger=logging.debug,
+                raises=False
+            )
             if exercises:
                 EXERCISES[language] = exercises
                 return EXERCISES[language]
         EXERCISES[language] = softload_json(settings.EXERCISES_FILEPATH, logger=logging.debug, raises=False)
-        if language == "en":  # English-language exercises live in application space, translations in user space
+        
+        # English-language exercises live in application space, translations in user space
+        if language == "en":
             exercise_root = os.path.join(settings.KHAN_EXERCISES_DIRPATH, "exercises")
         else:
             exercise_root = os.path.join(django_settings.USER_DATA_ROOT, "exercises")
@@ -197,7 +216,7 @@ def get_exercise_cache(force=False, language=None):
             elif exercise.get("uses_assessment_items", False):
                 available = False
                 items = []
-                for item in exercise.get("all_assessment_items","[]"):
+                for item in exercise.get("all_assessment_items", "[]"):
                     item = json.loads(item)
                     if get_assessment_item_data(request=None, assessment_item_id=item.get("id")):
                         items.append(item)
@@ -227,7 +246,7 @@ def get_exercise_cache(force=False, language=None):
 
         if settings.DO_NOT_RELOAD_CONTENT_CACHE_AT_STARTUP:
             try:
-                with open(settings.EXERCISES_FILEPATH + "_" + language + ".cache", "w") as f:
+                with open(cache_file_path("exercises_{1}.json".format(language)), "w") as f:
                     json.dump(EXERCISES[language], f)
             except IOError as e:
                 logging.warn("Annotated exercise cache file failed in saving with error {e}".format(e=e))
@@ -272,7 +291,11 @@ def get_content_cache(force=False, annotate=False, language=None):
 
     if annotate:
         if settings.DO_NOT_RELOAD_CONTENT_CACHE_AT_STARTUP and not force:
-            content = softload_json(settings.CONTENT_FILEPATH + "_" + language + ".cache", logger=logging.debug, raises=False)
+            content = softload_json(
+                cache_file_path("content_{1}.json".format(language)),
+                logger=logging.debug,
+                raises=False
+            )
             if content:
                 CONTENT[language] = content
                 return CONTENT[language]
@@ -348,7 +371,7 @@ def get_content_cache(force=False, annotate=False, language=None):
 
         if settings.DO_NOT_RELOAD_CONTENT_CACHE_AT_STARTUP:
             try:
-                with open(settings.CONTENT_FILEPATH + "_" + language + ".cache", "w") as f:
+                with open(cache_file_path("content_{1}.json".format(language)), "w") as f:
                     json.dump(CONTENT[language], f)
             except IOError as e:
                 logging.warn("Annotated content cache file failed in saving with error {e}".format(e=e))