diff --git a/pkg/cri/server/helpers_linux.go b/pkg/cri/server/helpers_linux.go
index f367865c2..1e207d38a 100644
--- a/pkg/cri/server/helpers_linux.go
+++ b/pkg/cri/server/helpers_linux.go
@@ -156,6 +156,9 @@ func (c *criService) seccompEnabled() bool {
 
 // openLogFile opens/creates a container log file.
 func openLogFile(path string) (*os.File, error) {
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0755); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	return os.OpenFile(path, os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND|os.O_WRONLY, 0640)
 }