diff --git a/src/rai_core/rai/messages/artifacts.py b/src/rai_core/rai/messages/artifacts.py
index 870174344..0dc10d9f5 100644
--- a/src/rai_core/rai/messages/artifacts.py
+++ b/src/rai_core/rai/messages/artifacts.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ def store_artifacts(
     # TODO(boczekbartek): refactor
     path = Path(db_path)
     if not path.is_file():
+        path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         artifact_database: dict = {}
         with path.open("wb") as file:
             pickle.dump(artifact_database, file)
diff --git a/tests/messages/test_artifacts_db_path.py b/tests/messages/test_artifacts_db_path.py
index 83efc1d77..9792465c1 100644
--- a/tests/messages/test_artifacts_db_path.py
+++ b/tests/messages/test_artifacts_db_path.py
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ def test_store_artifacts_honors_db_path(tmp_path: Path):
     assert get_stored_artifacts("missing", db_path=str(db)) == []
 
 
-def test_store_artifacts_creates_file_at_path(tmp_path: Path):
-    db = tmp_path / "nested" / "db.pkl"
-    db.parent.mkdir(parents=True)
+def test_store_artifacts_creates_nested_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    db = tmp_path / "nested" / "dir" / "db.pkl"
     store_artifacts("x", [1], db_path=str(db))
     assert get_stored_artifacts("x", db_path=str(db)) == [1]