diff --git a/src/interfaces/node.cpp b/src/interfaces/node.cpp
--- a/src/interfaces/node.cpp
+++ b/src/interfaces/node.cpp
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
                 LOCK(::cs_main);
                 tip = ::chainActive.Tip();
             }
-            return GuessVerificationProgress(::Params().TxData(), tip);
+            return GuessVerificationProgress(Params().TxData(), tip);
         }
         bool isInitialBlockDownload() override {
             return IsInitialBlockDownload();
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@
             return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.NotifyBlockTip.connect(
                 [fn](bool initial_download, const CBlockIndex *block) {
                     fn(initial_download, block->nHeight, block->GetBlockTime(),
-                       GuessVerificationProgress(::Params().TxData(), block));
+                       GuessVerificationProgress(Params().TxData(), block));
                 }));
         }
         std::unique_ptr<Handler>
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
             return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.NotifyHeaderTip.connect(
                 [fn](bool initial_download, const CBlockIndex *block) {
                     fn(initial_download, block->nHeight, block->GetBlockTime(),
-                       GuessVerificationProgress(::Params().TxData(), block));
+                       GuessVerificationProgress(Params().TxData(), block));
                 }));
         }
     };
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@
 
     /// 5. Now that settings and translations are available, ask user for data
     /// directory. User language is set up: pick a data directory.
-    if (!Intro::pickDataDirectory()) {
+    if (!Intro::pickDataDirectory(*node)) {
         return EXIT_SUCCESS;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/qt/intro.h b/src/qt/intro.h
--- a/src/qt/intro.h
+++ b/src/qt/intro.h
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 
 class FreespaceChecker;
 
+namespace interfaces {
+class Node;
+}
+
 namespace Ui {
 class Intro;
 }
@@ -42,7 +46,7 @@
      * @note do NOT call global GetDataDir() before calling this function, this
      * will cause the wrong path to be cached.
      */
-    static bool pickDataDirectory();
+    static bool pickDataDirectory(interfaces::Node &node);
 
     /**
      * Determine default data directory for operating system.
diff --git a/src/qt/intro.cpp b/src/qt/intro.cpp
--- a/src/qt/intro.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/intro.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "fs.h"
 #include "guiutil.h"
+#include "interfaces/node.h"
 #include "intro.h"
 #include "ui_intro.h"
 #include "util.h"
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@
     return GUIUtil::boostPathToQString(GetDefaultDataDir());
 }
 
-bool Intro::pickDataDirectory() {
+bool Intro::pickDataDirectory(interfaces::Node &node) {
     QSettings settings;
     /* If data directory provided on command line, no need to look at settings
        or show a picking dialog */
@@ -215,8 +216,8 @@
      */
     if (dataDir != getDefaultDataDirectory()) {
         // use OS locale for path setting
-        gArgs.SoftSetArg("-datadir",
-                         GUIUtil::qstringToBoostPath(dataDir).string());
+        node.softSetArg("-datadir",
+                        GUIUtil::qstringToBoostPath(dataDir).string());
     }
     return true;
 }