diff --git a/cowrie/core/honeypot.py b/cowrie/core/honeypot.py
index f153180..8c69036 100644
--- a/cowrie/core/honeypot.py
+++ b/cowrie/core/honeypot.py
@@ -45,9 +45,18 @@ class HoneyPotCommand(object):
                 self.protocol.terminal.transport.session.id,
                 re.sub('[^A-Za-z0-9]', '_', self.outfile))
             perm = stat.S_IRUSR | stat.S_IWUSR | stat.S_IRGRP | stat.S_IROTH
-            self.fs.mkfile(self.outfile, 0, 0, 0, stat.S_IFREG | perm)
-            with open(self.safeoutfile, 'a'):
-                self.fs.update_realfile(self.fs.getfile(self.outfile), self.safeoutfile)
+            try:
+                self.fs.mkfile(self.outfile, 0, 0, 0, stat.S_IFREG | perm)
+            except fs.FileNotFound:
+                # The outfile locates at a non-existing directory.
+                self.protocol.pp.outReceived('-bash: %s: No such file or directory\n' % self.outfile)
+                self.write = self.write_to_failed
+                self.outfile = None
+                self.safeoutfile = None
+
+            else:
+                with open(self.safeoutfile, 'a'):
+                    self.fs.update_realfile(self.fs.getfile(self.outfile), self.safeoutfile)
 
 
     def check_arguments(self, application, args):
@@ -78,10 +87,16 @@ class HoneyPotCommand(object):
         self.fs.update_size(self.outfile, self.writtenBytes)
 
 
+    def write_to_failed(self, data):
+        """
+        """
+        pass
+
     def start(self):
         """
         """
-        self.call()
+        if self.write != self.write_to_failed:
+            self.call()
         self.exit()