diff --git a/tools/idf_tools.py b/tools/idf_tools.py
index 2b450f4556..5b57c567bd 100755
--- a/tools/idf_tools.py
+++ b/tools/idf_tools.py
@@ -1054,6 +1054,9 @@ def export_targets_to_idf_env_json(targets):  # type: (list[str]) -> None
             break
 
     try:
+        if global_idf_tools_path:  # mypy fix for Optional[str] in the next call
+            # the directory doesn't exist if this is run on a clean system the first time
+            mkdir_p(global_idf_tools_path)
         with open(os.path.join(global_idf_tools_path, IDF_ENV_FILE), 'w') as w:  # type: ignore
             json.dump(idf_env_json, w, indent=4)
     except (IOError, OSError):