diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
index 72d4ef692..76a53da46 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
@@ -440,7 +440,8 @@ fn save_as(s: &mut Session, cmd: &str, path: &str, opts: &SaveAs) -> Result<usiz
 fn store(path: &str, bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
     #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
     {
-        if is_drawing_file(path) && crate::autosave::isavebak() {
+        // A file in a folder still to be made has nothing to back up.
+        if is_drawing_file(path) && crate::autosave::isavebak() && crate::atomic_write::missing_folder(std::path::Path::new(path)).is_none() {
             backup(std::path::Path::new(path))
                 .map_err(|e| bad("save", format!("{path}: the backup copy could not be written ({e}); nothing was saved")))?;
         }