diff --git a/src/python/m5/simulate.py b/src/python/m5/simulate.py
index 70ed11a9b6..19d5604568 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/simulate.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/simulate.py
@@ -318,6 +318,10 @@ def checkpoint(dir):
 
     drain()
     memWriteback(root)
+
+    # Recursively create the checkpoint directory if it does not exist.
+    os.makedirs(dir, exist_ok=True)
+
     print("Writing checkpoint")
     _m5.core.serializeAll(dir)