diff --git a/etherpump/commands/pull.py b/etherpump/commands/pull.py
index e4547db..26e7c55 100644
--- a/etherpump/commands/pull.py
+++ b/etherpump/commands/pull.py
@@ -288,9 +288,10 @@ async def handle_pad(args, padid, data, info, session):
     if args.all or (args.meta or args.text or args.html or args.dhtml):
         try:
             path = trio.Path(os.path.split(metapath)[0])
-            await path.mkdir()
-        except OSError:
-            print("PANIC: unable to create {}".format(str(path)))
+            if not os.path.exists(path):
+                await path.mkdir()
+        except OSError as exception:
+            print("PANIC: {}".format(exception))
 
     if args.all or args.text:
         url = info["localapiurl"] + "getText?" + urlencode(data)