diff --git a/src/libstore/db.cc b/src/libstore/db.cc
index c3cdd3232..657f6b7b4 100644
--- a/src/libstore/db.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/db.cc
@@ -142,6 +142,15 @@ Database::~Database()
 
 void openEnv(DbEnv * & env, const string & path, u_int32_t flags)
 {
+    try {
+        createDirs(path);
+    } catch (SysError & e) {
+        if (e.errNo == EPERM || e.errNo == EACCES)
+            throw DbNoPermission(format("cannot create the Nix database in `%1%'") % path);
+        else
+            throw;
+    }
+        
     try {
         env->open(path.c_str(),
             DB_INIT_LOCK | DB_INIT_LOG | DB_INIT_MPOOL | DB_INIT_TXN |