diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index a5b7685e84..d64609b083 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -1861,6 +1861,12 @@ static void dump_marks(void)
 	if (!export_marks_file || (import_marks_file && !import_marks_file_done))
 		return;
 
+	if (safe_create_leading_directories_const(export_marks_file)) {
+		failure |= error_errno("unable to create leading directories of %s",
+				       export_marks_file);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (hold_lock_file_for_update(&mark_lock, export_marks_file, 0) < 0) {
 		failure |= error_errno("Unable to write marks file %s",
 				       export_marks_file);
@@ -3268,7 +3274,6 @@ static void option_active_branches(const char *branches)
 static void option_export_marks(const char *marks)
 {
 	export_marks_file = make_fast_import_path(marks);
-	safe_create_leading_directories_const(export_marks_file);
 }
 
 static void option_cat_blob_fd(const char *fd)
diff --git a/t/t9300-fast-import.sh b/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
index c0d04ec3ee..1ba20c1f1a 100755
--- a/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
+++ b/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
@@ -2132,8 +2132,17 @@ test_expect_success 'R: export-marks feature results in a marks file being creat
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'R: export-marks options can be overridden by commandline options' '
-	git fast-import --export-marks=other.marks <input &&
-	grep :1 other.marks
+	cat >input <<-\EOF &&
+	feature export-marks=feature-sub/git.marks
+	blob
+	mark :1
+	data 3
+	hi
+
+	EOF
+	git fast-import --export-marks=cmdline-sub/other.marks <input &&
+	grep :1 cmdline-sub/other.marks &&
+	test_path_is_missing feature-sub
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'R: catch typo in marks file name' '