diff --git a/osc/conf.py b/osc/conf.py
index 882d06d0..6d8cc1cb 100644
--- a/osc/conf.py
+++ b/osc/conf.py
@@ -861,9 +861,10 @@ def write_config(fname, cp):
         fname = os.readlink(fname)
 
     # create directories to the config file (if they don't exist already)
-    if not os.path.exists(os.path.dirname(fname)):
+    fdir = os.path.dirname(fname)
+    if fdir:
         try:
-            os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(fname), mode=0o700)
+            os.makedirs(fdir, mode=0o700)
         except OSError as e:
             if e.errno != errno.EEXIST:
                 raise