diff --git a/config_tempest/services/image.py b/config_tempest/services/image.py
index b77e4fe8..1bc67884 100644
--- a/config_tempest/services/image.py
+++ b/config_tempest/services/image.py
@@ -128,11 +128,8 @@ class ImageService(VersionedService):
         name = image_path[image_path.rfind('/') + 1:]
         if self.convert and name[-4:] == ".img":
             name = name[:-4] + ".raw"
-        if not os.path.exists(img_dir):
-            try:
-                os.makedirs(img_dir)
-            except OSError:
-                raise
+        # create img_dir if it doesn't exist already
+        os.makedirs(img_dir, exist_ok=True)
         alt_name = name + "_alt"
         image_id = None
         if conf.has_option('compute', 'image_ref'):