diff --git a/lisp/arc-mode.el b/lisp/arc-mode.el
index 35189f1bfd8..dbb8c202091 100644
--- a/lisp/arc-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/arc-mode.el
@@ -1073,13 +1073,16 @@ NEW-NAME."
     (user-error "Can't copy a list of files to a single file"))
   (save-excursion
     (dolist (file files)
-      (let ((write-to (if (file-directory-p new-name)
-                          (expand-file-name file new-name)
-                        new-name)))
+      (let* ((write-to (if (file-directory-p new-name)
+                           (expand-file-name file new-name)
+                         new-name))
+             (write-to-dir (file-name-directory write-to)))
         (when (and (file-exists-p write-to)
                    (not (yes-or-no-p (format "%s already exists; overwrite? "
                                              write-to))))
           (user-error "Not overwriting %s" write-to))
+        (unless (file-directory-p write-to-dir)
+          (make-directory write-to-dir t))
         (archive-goto-file file)
         (let* ((descr (archive-get-descr))
                (archive (buffer-file-name))