diff --git a/release-tool.py b/release-tool.py
index 30c7e75d68..acde1b012f 100755
--- a/release-tool.py
+++ b/release-tool.py
@@ -968,11 +968,12 @@ def run(self, version, src_dir, output_dir, tag_name, yes, **kwargs):
                 tf.add(fver, Path(prefix) / fver.name)
                 tf.add(frev, Path(prefix) / frev.name)
 
-                logger.info('Compressing source tarball...')
-                tmp_comp = tmp_export.with_suffix('.tar.xz')
-                with lzma.open(tmp_comp, 'wb', preset=6) as f:
-                    f.write(tmp_export.read_bytes())
-                tmp_comp.rename(output_file)
+            logger.info('Compressing source tarball...')
+            tmp_comp = tmp_export.with_suffix('.tar.xz')
+            with lzma.open(tmp_comp, 'wb', preset=6) as f:
+                f.write(tmp_export.read_bytes())
+            output_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            tmp_comp.rename(output_file)
 
 
 class Notarize(Command):