diff --git a/helix-view/src/document.rs b/helix-view/src/document.rs
index 671ceb75f84ff..dab2f1ff8ac72 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/document.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/document.rs
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ impl Document {
             if let Some(parent) = path.parent() {
                 // TODO: display a prompt asking the user if the directories should be created
                 if !parent.exists() {
-                    bail!("can't save file, parent directory does not exist");
+                    std::fs::DirBuilder::new().recursive(true).create(parent)?;
                 }
             }