diff --git a/lib/std/fs.zig b/lib/std/fs.zig
index 944800a7f468..29e603e1b3c2 100644
--- a/lib/std/fs.zig
+++ b/lib/std/fs.zig
@@ -1490,13 +1490,18 @@ pub const Dir = struct {
         }
     }
 
-    fn openDirAccessMaskW(self: Dir, sub_path: []const u8, access_mask: u32, no_follow: bool) OpenError!Dir {
+    /// Calls makeOpenDirAccessMaskW recursively to make an entire path
+    /// (i.e. falling back if the parent directory does not exist). Opens the dir if the path
+    /// already exists and is a directory.
+    /// This function is not atomic, and if it returns an error, the file system may
+    /// have been modified regardless.
+    fn makeOpenPathAccessMaskW(self: Dir, sub_path: []const u8, access_mask: u32, no_follow: bool) OpenError!Dir {
         const w = os.windows;
         var end_index: usize = sub_path.len;
 
         return while (true) {
             const sub_path_w = try w.sliceToPrefixedFileW(sub_path[0..end_index]);
-            const result = self.openDirWithAccessAndCreationW(sub_path_w.span().ptr, access_mask, .{
+            const result = self.makeOpenDirAccessMaskW(sub_path_w.span().ptr, access_mask, .{
                 .no_follow = no_follow,
                 .create_disposition = if (end_index == sub_path.len) w.FILE_OPEN_IF else w.FILE_CREATE,
             }) catch |err| switch (err) {
@@ -1524,6 +1529,7 @@ pub const Dir = struct {
     /// This function performs `makePath`, followed by `openDir`.
     /// If supported by the OS, this operation is atomic. It is not atomic on
     /// all operating systems.
+    /// On Windows, this function preforms `makeOpenPathAccessMaskW`.
     pub fn makeOpenPath(self: Dir, sub_path: []const u8, open_dir_options: OpenDirOptions) !Dir {
         return switch (builtin.os.tag) {
             .windows => {
@@ -1531,12 +1537,15 @@ pub const Dir = struct {
                 const base_flags = w.STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ | w.FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES | w.FILE_READ_EA |
                     w.SYNCHRONIZE | w.FILE_TRAVERSE;
 
-                return self.openDirAccessMaskW(sub_path, base_flags, open_dir_options.no_follow);
+                return self.makeOpenPathAccessMaskW(sub_path, base_flags, open_dir_options.no_follow);
             },
             else => {
-                return self.openDir(sub_path, open_dir_options) catch {
-                    try self.makePath(sub_path);
-                    return self.openDir(sub_path, open_dir_options);
+                return self.openDir(sub_path, open_dir_options) catch |err| switch (err) {
+                    error.FileNotFound => {
+                        try self.makePath(sub_path);
+                        return self.openDir(sub_path, open_dir_options);
+                    },
+                    else => |e| return e,
                 };
             },
         };
@@ -1553,13 +1562,16 @@ pub const Dir = struct {
                     w.SYNCHRONIZE | w.FILE_TRAVERSE | w.FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY;
 
                 return IterableDir{
-                    .dir = try self.openDirAccessMaskW(sub_path, base_flags, open_dir_options.no_follow),
+                    .dir = try self.makeOpenPathAccessMaskW(sub_path, base_flags, open_dir_options.no_follow),
                 };
             },
             else => {
-                return self.openIterableDir(sub_path, open_dir_options) catch {
-                    try self.makePath(sub_path);
-                    return self.openIterableDir(sub_path, open_dir_options);
+                return self.openIterableDir(sub_path, open_dir_options) catch |err| switch (err) {
+                    error.FileNotFound => {
+                        try self.makePath(sub_path);
+                        return self.openIterableDir(sub_path, open_dir_options);
+                    },
+                    else => |e| return e,
                 };
             },
         };
@@ -1816,7 +1828,7 @@ pub const Dir = struct {
         const base_flags = w.STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ | w.FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES | w.FILE_READ_EA |
             w.SYNCHRONIZE | w.FILE_TRAVERSE;
         const flags: u32 = if (iterable) base_flags | w.FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY else base_flags;
-        var dir = try self.openDirWithAccessAndCreationW(sub_path_w, flags, .{
+        var dir = try self.makeOpenDirAccessMaskW(sub_path_w, flags, .{
             .no_follow = args.no_follow,
             .create_disposition = w.FILE_OPEN,
         });
@@ -1842,12 +1854,12 @@ pub const Dir = struct {
         return Dir{ .fd = fd };
     }
 
-    const OpenDirWithAccessAndCreationWOptions = struct {
+    const MakeOpenDirAccessMaskWOptions = struct {
         no_follow: bool,
         create_disposition: u32,
     };
 
-    fn openDirWithAccessAndCreationW(self: Dir, sub_path_w: [*:0]const u16, access_mask: u32, flags: OpenDirWithAccessAndCreationWOptions) OpenError!Dir {
+    fn makeOpenDirAccessMaskW(self: Dir, sub_path_w: [*:0]const u16, access_mask: u32, flags: MakeOpenDirAccessMaskWOptions) OpenError!Dir {
         const w = os.windows;
 
         var result = Dir{
diff --git a/lib/std/fs/test.zig b/lib/std/fs/test.zig
index 4c51e512b678..3fc3aaa1499e 100644
--- a/lib/std/fs/test.zig
+++ b/lib/std/fs/test.zig
@@ -475,6 +475,13 @@ test "file operations on directories" {
     dir.close();
 }
 
+test "makeOpenPath parent dirs do not exist" {
+    if (builtin.os.tag == .wasi) return error.SkipZigTest;
+
+    var dir = try fs.cwd().makeOpenPath("root_dir/parent_dir/some_dir", .{});
+    defer dir.close();
+}
+
 test "deleteDir" {
     var tmp_dir = tmpDir(.{});
     defer tmp_dir.cleanup();