diff --git a/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py b/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
index 99520b302f54..58effd134af9 100644
--- a/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
+++ b/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ class CloudController(object):
                                              'genrootca.sh')
 
             start = os.getcwd()
-            os.makedirs(FLAGS.ca_path)
+            if not os.path.exists(FLAGS.ca_path):
+                os.makedirs(FLAGS.ca_path)
             os.chdir(FLAGS.ca_path)
             # TODO(vish): Do this with M2Crypto instead
             utils.runthis(_("Generating root CA: %s"), "sh", genrootca_sh_path)