diff --git a/ckan/lib/uploader.py b/ckan/lib/uploader.py
index 867e28cfcb0..cc4e8751d57 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/uploader.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/uploader.py
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ def __init__(self, object_type, old_filename=None):
         try:
             os.makedirs(self.storage_path)
         except OSError, e:
-            pass
+            ## errno 17 is file already exists
+            if e.errno != 17:
+                raise
         self.object_type = object_type
         self.old_filename = old_filename
         if old_filename: