diff --git a/octue/utils/metadata.py b/octue/utils/metadata.py
index d4cdb27cc..2a285edcd 100644
--- a/octue/utils/metadata.py
+++ b/octue/utils/metadata.py
@@ -106,7 +106,9 @@ def _get_absolute_path(path):
     try:
         return os.path.abspath(path)
     except FileNotFoundError:
-        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
+
+        if os.path.dirname(path):
+            os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
 
         with open(path, "w") as f:
             json.dump({}, f)