diff --git a/node-api/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/nodeapi/internal/crypto/KeyStoreUtilities.kt b/node-api/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/nodeapi/internal/crypto/KeyStoreUtilities.kt
index 981d16cf94..617a5df6e8 100644
--- a/node-api/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/nodeapi/internal/crypto/KeyStoreUtilities.kt
+++ b/node-api/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/nodeapi/internal/crypto/KeyStoreUtilities.kt
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ fun loadOrCreateKeyStore(keyStoreFilePath: Path, storePassword: String): KeyStor
         keyStoreFilePath.read { keyStore.load(it, pass) }
     } else {
         keyStore.load(null, pass)
-        keyStoreFilePath.parent.createDirectories()
+        keyStoreFilePath.toAbsolutePath().parent?.createDirectories()
         keyStoreFilePath.write { keyStore.store(it, pass) }
     }
     return keyStore