diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index 1d0a06ccfd..a5b7685e84 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -3228,7 +3228,6 @@ static void option_import_marks(const char *marks,
 	}
 
 	import_marks_file = make_fast_import_path(marks);
-	safe_create_leading_directories_const(import_marks_file);
 	import_marks_file_from_stream = from_stream;
 	import_marks_file_ignore_missing = ignore_missing;
 }