diff --git a/include/rcpputils/filesystem_helper.hpp b/include/rcpputils/filesystem_helper.hpp
index 507fdba..a3c7467 100644
--- a/include/rcpputils/filesystem_helper.hpp
+++ b/include/rcpputils/filesystem_helper.hpp
@@ -509,6 +509,8 @@ inline bool create_directories(const path & p)
 #else
       status = mkdir(p_built.string().c_str(), S_IRWXU | S_IRWXG | S_IRWXO);
 #endif
+    } else if (!p_built.is_directory()) {
+      status = 1;
     }
   }
   return status == 0;
diff --git a/test/test_filesystem_helper.cpp b/test/test_filesystem_helper.cpp
index 11952d6..dc697b6 100644
--- a/test/test_filesystem_helper.cpp
+++ b/test/test_filesystem_helper.cpp
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ TEST(TestFilesystemHelper, filesystem_manipulation)
   EXPECT_TRUE(rcpputils::fs::exists(file));
   EXPECT_TRUE(rcpputils::fs::is_regular_file(file));
   EXPECT_FALSE(rcpputils::fs::is_directory(file));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(rcpputils::fs::create_directories(file));
   EXPECT_GE(rcpputils::fs::file_size(file), expected_file_size);
   EXPECT_THROW(rcpputils::fs::file_size(dir), std::system_error) <<
     "file_size is only applicable for files!";