diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b1d550b..aa265b5 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -52,3 +52,5 @@ coverage.xml
 *.log
 *.pot
 
+tests/test_data/
+
diff --git a/nd2reader/common.py b/nd2reader/common.py
index 3316bf9..c6ba459 100644
--- a/nd2reader/common.py
+++ b/nd2reader/common.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 import struct
 import array
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -329,6 +330,16 @@ def get_from_dict_if_exists(key, dictionary, convert_key_to_binary=True):
     if convert_key_to_binary:
         key = six.b(key)
 
-    if not key in dictionary:
+    if key not in dictionary:
         return None
     return dictionary[key]
+
+
+def check_or_make_dir(directory):
+    """
+    Check if a directory exists, if not, create it
+    Args:
+        directory: the path to the directory
+    """
+    if not os.path.exists(directory):
+        os.makedirs(directory)
diff --git a/tests/test_common.py b/tests/test_common.py
index afee44b..5dea7a0 100644
--- a/tests/test_common.py
+++ b/tests/test_common.py
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ import struct
 
 from nd2reader.artificial import ArtificialND2
 from nd2reader.common import get_version, parse_version, parse_date, _add_to_metadata, _parse_unsigned_char, \
-    _parse_unsigned_int, _parse_unsigned_long, _parse_double
+    _parse_unsigned_int, _parse_unsigned_long, _parse_double, check_or_make_dir
 from nd2reader.exceptions import InvalidVersionError
 
 
 class TestCommon(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         dir_path = path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__))
+        check_or_make_dir(path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/'))
         self.test_file = path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/test.nd2')
 
     def create_test_nd2(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_legacy.py b/tests/test_legacy.py
index c28d5d6..7ce29dc 100644
--- a/tests/test_legacy.py
+++ b/tests/test_legacy.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import unittest
 from os import path
 
 from nd2reader.artificial import ArtificialND2
+from nd2reader.common import check_or_make_dir
 from nd2reader.legacy import Nd2
 
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ class TestLegacy(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         dir_path = path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__))
+        check_or_make_dir(path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/'))
         self.test_file = path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/test.nd2')
 
     def test_can_open_test_file(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_parser.py b/tests/test_parser.py
index 04ec4f8..1558acc 100644
--- a/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import unittest
 from os import path
 from nd2reader.artificial import ArtificialND2
+from nd2reader.common import check_or_make_dir
 from nd2reader.exceptions import InvalidVersionError
 from nd2reader.parser import Parser
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ class TestParser(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         dir_path = path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__))
+        check_or_make_dir(path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/'))
         self.test_file = path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/test.nd2')
         self.create_test_nd2()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_reader.py b/tests/test_reader.py
index c7842d7..5889a84 100644
--- a/tests/test_reader.py
+++ b/tests/test_reader.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from os import path
 import numpy as np
 
 from nd2reader.artificial import ArtificialND2
+from nd2reader.common import check_or_make_dir
 from nd2reader.parser import Parser
 from nd2reader.reader import ND2Reader
 
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ class TestReader(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         dir_path = path.dirname(path.realpath(__file__))
+        check_or_make_dir(path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/'))
         self.test_file = path.join(dir_path, 'test_data/test.nd2')
 
     def test_can_open_test_file(self):