diff --git a/PW/src/io_rho_xml.f90 b/PW/src/io_rho_xml.f90
index dbc3dcdd1..ec91c695e 100644
--- a/PW/src/io_rho_xml.f90
+++ b/PW/src/io_rho_xml.f90
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ MODULE io_rho_xml
 
       ! Use the equivalent routine to write real space density
       dirname = TRIM(tmp_dir) // TRIM(prefix) // '.save/'
+      CALL create_directory( dirname )
       ! in the following case do not read or write polarization
       IF ( noncolin .AND. .NOT.domag ) THEN
          CALL write_rho ( dirname, rho%of_r, 1 )