diff --git a/cmd/influxd/run/server.go b/cmd/influxd/run/server.go
index 9b91fd0fb7..dc8a654d6f 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/run/server.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/run/server.go
@@ -125,11 +125,6 @@ func NewServer(c *Config, buildInfo *BuildInfo) (*Server, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Create the root directory if it doesn't already exist.
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(c.Meta.Dir, 0777); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("mkdir all: %s", err)
-	}
-
 	// 0.11 we no longer use peers.json.  Remove the file if we have one on disk.
 	os.RemoveAll(filepath.Join(c.Meta.Dir, "peers.json"))