diff --git a/ldap_backup.sh b/ldap_backup.sh
index f46a317..8eb671e 100644
--- a/ldap_backup.sh
+++ b/ldap_backup.sh
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ error=$?
 if [ $error -eq 0 ] ; then
    find $rdir  -maxdepth 1 -type d -mtime +${rotate} -exec rm -fr {} \;
 fi
-echo $error > $status_file
+test -d $(dirname $status_file) && echo $error > $status_file
 exit $error