diff --git a/mongodb_consistent_backup/State.py b/mongodb_consistent_backup/State.py
index 28f91093..05d0223f 100644
--- a/mongodb_consistent_backup/State.py
+++ b/mongodb_consistent_backup/State.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from time import time
 
 from mongodb_consistent_backup.Common import Lock
+from mongodb_consistent_backup.Errors import OperationError
 
 
 class StateBase(object):
@@ -22,7 +23,14 @@ def __init__(self, base_dir, config, filename="meta.bson", state_version=1, meta
         self.lock = Lock(self.state_lock, False)
 
         if not os.path.isdir(self.state_dir):
-            os.makedirs(self.state_dir)
+            # try normal mkdir first, fallback to recursive mkdir if there is an exception
+            try:
+                os.mkdir(self.state_dir)
+            except:
+                try:
+                    os.makedirs(self.state_dir)
+                except Exception, e:
+                    raise OperationError(e)
 
     def merge(self, new, old):
         merged = old.copy()