diff --git a/lisp/org-persist.el b/lisp/org-persist.el
index fe339505c..30c5e17d4 100644
--- a/lisp/org-persist.el
+++ b/lisp/org-persist.el
@@ -662,12 +662,13 @@ COLLECTION is the plist holding data collection."
              (file-copy (org-file-name-concat
                          org-persist-directory
                          (format "%s-%s.%s" persist-file (md5 path) ext))))
-        (unless (file-exists-p (file-name-directory file-copy))
-          (make-directory (file-name-directory file-copy) t))
-        (if (org--should-fetch-remote-resource-p path)
-            (url-copy-file path file-copy 'overwrite)
-          (error "The remote resource %S is considered unsafe, and will not be downloaded."
-                 path))
+        (unless (file-exists-p file-copy)
+          (unless (file-exists-p (file-name-directory file-copy))
+            (make-directory (file-name-directory file-copy) t))
+          (if (org--should-fetch-remote-resource-p path)
+              (url-copy-file path file-copy 'overwrite)
+            (error "The remote resource %S is considered unsafe, and will not be downloaded."
+                   path)))
         (format "%s-%s.%s" persist-file (md5 path) ext)))))
 
 (defun org-persist-write:index (container _)