diff --git a/src/emu/machine.cpp b/src/emu/machine.cpp
index ae797fc81d2..0b3719fb1b8 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/machine.cpp
@@ -549,6 +549,39 @@ std::string running_machine::get_statename(const char *option) const
 	return statename_str;
 }
 
+
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  compose_saveload_filename - composes a filename
+//  for state loading/saving
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+std::string running_machine::compose_saveload_filename(const char *filename, const char **searchpath)
+{
+	std::string result;
+
+	// is this an absolute path?
+	if (osd_is_absolute_path(filename))
+	{
+		// if so, this is easy
+		if (searchpath != nullptr)
+			*searchpath = nullptr;
+		result = filename;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		// this is a relative path; first specify the search path
+		if (searchpath != nullptr)
+			*searchpath = options().state_directory();
+
+		// take into account the statename option
+		const char *stateopt = options().state_name();
+		std::string statename = get_statename(stateopt);
+		result = string_format("%s%s%s.sta", statename, PATH_SEPARATOR, filename);
+	}
+	return result;
+}
+
+
 //-------------------------------------------------
 //  set_saveload_filename - specifies the filename
 //  for state loading/saving
@@ -556,20 +589,8 @@ std::string running_machine::get_statename(const char *option) const
 
 void running_machine::set_saveload_filename(const char *filename)
 {
-	// free any existing request and allocate a copy of the requested name
-	if (osd_is_absolute_path(filename))
-	{
-		m_saveload_searchpath = nullptr;
-		m_saveload_pending_file.assign(filename);
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		m_saveload_searchpath = options().state_directory();
-		// take into account the statename option
-		const char *stateopt = options().state_name();
-		std::string statename = get_statename(stateopt);
-		m_saveload_pending_file = string_format("%s%s%s.sta", statename, PATH_SEPARATOR, filename);
-	}
+	// compose the save/load filename and persist it
+	m_saveload_pending_file = compose_saveload_filename(filename, &m_saveload_searchpath);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/emu/machine.h b/src/emu/machine.h
index 57665e7ffca..788a6cff7fd 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine.h
+++ b/src/emu/machine.h
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ public:
 	void strlog(const char *str) const;
 	UINT32 rand();
 	const char *describe_context();
+	std::string compose_saveload_filename(const char *base_filename, const char **searchpath = nullptr);
 
 	// CPU information
 	cpu_device *            firstcpu;           // first CPU
diff --git a/src/frontend/mame/ui/filecreate.h b/src/frontend/mame/ui/filecreate.h
index 47905564d68..9dfb50d7432 100644
--- a/src/frontend/mame/ui/filecreate.h
+++ b/src/frontend/mame/ui/filecreate.h
@@ -45,12 +45,11 @@ public:
 protected:
 	virtual void custom_render(void *selectedref, float top, float bottom, float x, float y, float x2, float y2) override;
 
-	bool &                          m_ok;
-
 private:
 	virtual void populate() override;
 	virtual void handle() override;
 
+	bool &                          m_ok;
 	device_image_interface *        m_image;
 	std::string &                   m_current_directory;
 	std::string &                   m_current_file;