diff --git a/tools/dhtnet_crtmgr/dhtnet_crtmgr.cpp b/tools/dhtnet_crtmgr/dhtnet_crtmgr.cpp
index 3d3d94a..814dbe2 100644
--- a/tools/dhtnet_crtmgr/dhtnet_crtmgr.cpp
+++ b/tools/dhtnet_crtmgr/dhtnet_crtmgr.cpp
@@ -43,8 +43,12 @@
 dht::crypto::Identity generateIdentity(const std::filesystem::path& path_id, const std::string& name, const dht::crypto::Identity& ca)
 {
     auto identity = dht::crypto::generateIdentity(name, ca);
-    if (!std::filesystem::exists(path_id))
-        std::filesystem::create_directories(path_id);
+    std::error_code ec;
+    std::filesystem::create_directories(path_id, ec);
+    if (ec) {
+        fmt::print(stderr, "Error: failed to create directory {}\n", path_id.string());
+        return {};
+    }
     dht::crypto::saveIdentity(identity, path_id / name);
     return identity;
 }