diff --git a/tuning/sft_trainer.py b/tuning/sft_trainer.py
index 767fea1b4..7b52e3af4 100644
--- a/tuning/sft_trainer.py
+++ b/tuning/sft_trainer.py
@@ -637,6 +637,9 @@ def main():
     combined_tracker_configs.file_logger_config = file_logger_config
     combined_tracker_configs.aim_config = aim_config
 
+    if training_args.output_dir:
+        os.makedirs(training_args.output_dir, exist_ok=True)
+        logger.info("using the output directory at %s", training_args.output_dir)
     try:
         trainer, additional_train_info = train(
             model_args=model_args,