diff --git a/tools/test.py b/tools/test.py
index c8edca2b991ad2..b6db2cd68e3f7e 100755
--- a/tools/test.py
+++ b/tools/test.py
@@ -1628,9 +1628,9 @@ def Main():
 
   tempdir = os.environ.get('NODE_TEST_DIR') or options.temp_dir
   if tempdir:
+    os.environ['NODE_TEST_DIR'] = tempdir
     try:
       os.makedirs(tempdir)
-      os.environ['NODE_TEST_DIR'] = tempdir
     except OSError as exception:
       if exception.errno != errno.EEXIST:
         print "Could not create the temporary directory", options.temp_dir