diff --git a/gracedb/superevents/utils.py b/gracedb/superevents/utils.py
index 8b38d75a3f4ea6f1fc5d0d5c61c7795167309510..1ed2dbf2a070f31d09888376b248032c1b756f4b 100644
--- a/gracedb/superevents/utils.py
+++ b/gracedb/superevents/utils.py
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ def create_superevent(submitter, t_start, t_0, t_end, preferred_event,
             add_superevent_log=False, add_event_log=True,
             issue_alert=False)
 
+    # Create superevent data directory
+    os.makedirs(s.datadir)
+
     # Issue all relevant alerts
     if issue_alert:
         # Send "new" alert about superevent creation
@@ -115,9 +118,6 @@ def create_superevent(submitter, t_start, t_0, t_end, preferred_event,
         labelling, _ = add_label_to_superevent(s, label, submitter,
             add_log_message=True, issue_alert=issue_alert)
 
-    # Create superevent data directory
-    os.makedirs(s.datadir)
-
     return s