diff --git a/skyfield/iokit.py b/skyfield/iokit.py
index 1cb176f9e..b91399e73 100644
--- a/skyfield/iokit.py
+++ b/skyfield/iokit.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def __init__(self, directory, verbose=True, expire=True):
         try:
             os.makedirs(self.directory)
         except OSError as e:
-            if e.errno != errno.EEXIST:
+            if e.errno != errno.EEXIST and not os.path.isdir(name):
                 raise
 
         # Each instance gets its own copy of these data structures,