diff --git a/mdb_shard/src/shard_file_manager.rs b/mdb_shard/src/shard_file_manager.rs
index f837a58..ad1afa3 100644
--- a/mdb_shard/src/shard_file_manager.rs
+++ b/mdb_shard/src/shard_file_manager.rs
@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ impl ShardFileManager {
     async fn new_from_builder(sbp: ShardFileManagerOptions) -> Result<Arc<Self>> {
         let shard_directory = std::path::absolute(sbp.shard_directory)?;
 
+        // Make sure the shard directory exists; create it if not.
+        if !shard_directory.exists() {
+            std::fs::create_dir_all(&shard_directory)?;
+        }
+
         // Clean up old shards if needed
         if sbp.clean_expired_shards {
             MDBShardFile::clean_expired_shards(&shard_directory, sbp.shard_expiration_delete_buffer_secs)?;