diff --git a/files/copy.py b/files/copy.py
index ab480bec1f9..c5aaa01b5b3 100644
--- a/files/copy.py
+++ b/files/copy.py
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ def main():
     if original_basename and dest.endswith("/"):
         dest = os.path.join(dest, original_basename)
         dirname = os.path.dirname(dest)
-        if not os.path.exists(dirname):
+        if not os.path.exists(dirname) and '/' in dirname:
             (pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list) = split_pre_existing_dir(dirname)
             os.makedirs(dirname)
             directory_args = module.load_file_common_arguments(module.params)