diff --git a/src/allmydata/cli/grid_manager.py b/src/allmydata/cli/grid_manager.py
index d937c0f30..d07e2d412 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/cli/grid_manager.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/cli/grid_manager.py
@@ -75,13 +75,14 @@ def create(ctx):
     fp = None
     if config_location != '-':
         fp = FilePath(config_location)
-        if fp.exists():
-            raise click.ClickException(
-                "The directory '{}' already exists.".format(config_location)
-            )
 
     gm = create_grid_manager()
-    save_grid_manager(fp, gm)
+    try:
+        save_grid_manager(fp, gm)
+    except OSError as e:
+        raise click.ClickException(
+            "Can't create '{}': {}".format(config_location, e)
+        )
 
 
 @grid_manager.command()
diff --git a/src/allmydata/grid_manager.py b/src/allmydata/grid_manager.py
index d753295ab..df0a46e6d 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/grid_manager.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/grid_manager.py
@@ -269,7 +269,8 @@ def save_grid_manager(file_path, grid_manager):
     if file_path is None:
         print("{}\n".format(data))
     else:
-        fileutil.make_dirs(file_path.path, mode=0o700)
+        file_path.makedirs()
+        file_path.chmod(0o700)
         with file_path.child("config.json").open("w") as f:
             f.write("{}\n".format(data))