diff --git a/pelican/tools/templates/develop_server.sh.in b/pelican/tools/templates/develop_server.sh.in
index 732069c2..e345fefd 100755
--- a/pelican/tools/templates/develop_server.sh.in
+++ b/pelican/tools/templates/develop_server.sh.in
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function start_up(){
   $$PELICAN --debug --autoreload -r $$INPUTDIR -o $$OUTPUTDIR -s $$CONFFILE $$PELICANOPTS &
   pelican_pid=$$!
   echo $$pelican_pid > $$PELICAN_PID
-  cd $$OUTPUTDIR
+  mkdir -p $$OUTPUTDIR && cd $$OUTPUTDIR
   $PY -m pelican.server $$port &
   srv_pid=$$!
   echo $$srv_pid > $$SRV_PID