diff --git a/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_distances.py b/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_distances.py
index e8feae6f..3a7147f4 100755
--- a/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_distances.py
+++ b/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_distances.py
@@ -62,7 +62,10 @@ def readBasinImage(name):
 outFile.createDimension('basinCount',basinCount)
 var = outFile.createVariable('distances','f8',('basinCount','y','x'))
 
-os.makedirs('dist')
+try:
+    os.makedirs('dist')
+except OSError:
+    pass
 
 for basinIndex in range(len(names)):
   name = names[basinIndex]
diff --git a/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_images.py b/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_images.py
index 1af6f91a..bffc034c 100755
--- a/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_images.py
+++ b/feature_creation_scripts/iceshelves/write_basin_images.py
@@ -85,7 +85,10 @@ def writeBasinImage(basinShape, name):
 
 dx = 1e3
 
-os.makedirs('basins')
+try:
+    os.makedirs('basins')
+except OSError:
+    pass
 
 for index in range(len(basinShapes)):
     name = basinData['features'][index]['properties']['name']