diff --git a/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp b/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp
index 7591d487a..eccd8577b 100644
--- a/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,15 @@
 #include <mapnik/cairo/cairo_image_util.hpp>
 #endif
 
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#include <mapnik/warning_ignore.hpp>
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
+#include <boost/filesystem/convenience.hpp>
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+
+inline bool make_directory(std::string const& dir) {
+    return boost::filesystem::create_directory(dir);
+}
 
 TEST_CASE("image io") {
 
@@ -144,12 +152,14 @@ SECTION("image_util : save_to_file/save_to_stream/save_to_string")
     supported_types.push_back(std::make_tuple("webp","webp"));
 #endif
 
+    REQUIRE(make_directory("/tmp/mapnik-tests/"));
+
     for (auto const& info : supported_types)
     {
         std::string extension;
         std::string format;
         std::tie(extension, format) = info;
-        std::string filename = (boost::format("/tmp/mapnik-%1%.%2%") % named_color % extension).str();
+        std::string filename = (boost::format("/tmp/mapnik-tests/mapnik-%1%.%2%") % named_color % extension).str();
         mapnik::save_to_file(im, filename);
         std::string str = mapnik::save_to_string(im, format);
         std::ostringstream ss;