diff --git a/src/main/java/de/pzzz/vertx/PersistentRestDataAccess.java b/src/main/java/de/pzzz/vertx/PersistentRestDataAccess.java
index 5a9b3e4..6718db7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/pzzz/vertx/PersistentRestDataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/pzzz/vertx/PersistentRestDataAccess.java
@@ -72,8 +72,9 @@ public class PersistentRestDataAccess<T extends SerializableWithId> extends Rest
         LOG.info("Initializing " + classReference.getName() + " data access from directory " + baseDir);
         Promise<PersistentRestDataAccess<T>> promise = Promise.promise();
         FileSystem fs = vertx.fileSystem();
-        fs.readDir(baseDir)
-            .compose(this::readAllFiles)
+        fs.mkdirs(baseDir)
+	        .compose(v -> fs.readDir(baseDir))
+	        .compose(this::readAllFiles)
             .onSuccess(ar -> {
                 initialized = true;
                 promise.complete(this);