diff --git a/weed/filer/filer.go b/weed/filer/filer.go
index 13dedea1e..920d79da5 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filer.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filer.go
@@ -134,69 +134,7 @@ func (f *Filer) CreateEntry(ctx context.Context, entry *Entry, o_excl bool, isFr
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	dirParts := strings.Split(string(entry.FullPath), "/")
-
-	// fmt.Printf("directory parts: %+v\n", dirParts)
-
-	var lastDirectoryEntry *Entry
-
-	for i := 1; i < len(dirParts); i++ {
-		dirPath := "/" + util.Join(dirParts[:i]...)
-		// fmt.Printf("%d directory: %+v\n", i, dirPath)
-
-		// check the store directly
-		glog.V(4).Infof("find uncached directory: %s", dirPath)
-		dirEntry, _ := f.FindEntry(ctx, util.FullPath(dirPath))
-
-		// no such existing directory
-		if dirEntry == nil {
-
-			// create the directory
-			now := time.Now()
-
-			dirEntry = &Entry{
-				FullPath: util.FullPath(dirPath),
-				Attr: Attr{
-					Mtime:       now,
-					Crtime:      now,
-					Mode:        os.ModeDir | entry.Mode | 0110,
-					Uid:         entry.Uid,
-					Gid:         entry.Gid,
-					Collection:  entry.Collection,
-					Replication: entry.Replication,
-					UserName:    entry.UserName,
-					GroupNames:  entry.GroupNames,
-				},
-			}
-
-			glog.V(2).Infof("create directory: %s %v", dirPath, dirEntry.Mode)
-			mkdirErr := f.Store.InsertEntry(ctx, dirEntry)
-			if mkdirErr != nil {
-				if _, err := f.FindEntry(ctx, util.FullPath(dirPath)); err == filer_pb.ErrNotFound {
-					glog.V(3).Infof("mkdir %s: %v", dirPath, mkdirErr)
-					return fmt.Errorf("mkdir %s: %v", dirPath, mkdirErr)
-				}
-			} else {
-				f.maybeAddBucket(dirEntry)
-				f.NotifyUpdateEvent(ctx, nil, dirEntry, false, isFromOtherCluster, nil)
-			}
-
-		} else if !dirEntry.IsDirectory() {
-			glog.Errorf("CreateEntry %s: %s should be a directory", entry.FullPath, dirPath)
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s is a file", dirPath)
-		}
-
-		// remember the direct parent directory entry
-		if i == len(dirParts)-1 {
-			lastDirectoryEntry = dirEntry
-		}
-
-	}
-
-	if lastDirectoryEntry == nil {
-		glog.Errorf("CreateEntry %s: lastDirectoryEntry is nil", entry.FullPath)
-		return fmt.Errorf("parent folder not found: %v", entry.FullPath)
-	}
+	oldEntry, _ := f.FindEntry(ctx, entry.FullPath)
 
 	/*
 		if !hasWritePermission(lastDirectoryEntry, entry) {
@@ -206,9 +144,13 @@ func (f *Filer) CreateEntry(ctx context.Context, entry *Entry, o_excl bool, isFr
 		}
 	*/
 
-	oldEntry, _ := f.FindEntry(ctx, entry.FullPath)
-
 	if oldEntry == nil {
+
+		dirParts := strings.Split(string(entry.FullPath), "/")
+		if err := f.ensureParentDirecotryEntry(ctx, entry, dirParts, len(dirParts)-1, isFromOtherCluster); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		glog.V(4).Infof("InsertEntry %s: new entry: %v", entry.FullPath, entry.Name())
 		if err := f.Store.InsertEntry(ctx, entry); err != nil {
 			glog.Errorf("insert entry %s: %v", entry.FullPath, err)
@@ -236,6 +178,65 @@ func (f *Filer) CreateEntry(ctx context.Context, entry *Entry, o_excl bool, isFr
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (f *Filer) ensureParentDirecotryEntry(ctx context.Context, entry *Entry, dirParts []string, level int, isFromOtherCluster bool) (err error) {
+
+	if level == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	dirPath := "/" + util.Join(dirParts[:level]...)
+	// fmt.Printf("%d directory: %+v\n", i, dirPath)
+
+	// check the store directly
+	glog.V(4).Infof("find uncached directory: %s", dirPath)
+	dirEntry, _ := f.FindEntry(ctx, util.FullPath(dirPath))
+
+	// no such existing directory
+	if dirEntry == nil {
+
+		// ensure parent directory
+		if err = f.ensureParentDirecotryEntry(ctx, entry, dirParts, level-1, isFromOtherCluster); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// create the directory
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		dirEntry = &Entry{
+			FullPath: util.FullPath(dirPath),
+			Attr: Attr{
+				Mtime:       now,
+				Crtime:      now,
+				Mode:        os.ModeDir | entry.Mode | 0110,
+				Uid:         entry.Uid,
+				Gid:         entry.Gid,
+				Collection:  entry.Collection,
+				Replication: entry.Replication,
+				UserName:    entry.UserName,
+				GroupNames:  entry.GroupNames,
+			},
+		}
+
+		glog.V(2).Infof("create directory: %s %v", dirPath, dirEntry.Mode)
+		mkdirErr := f.Store.InsertEntry(ctx, dirEntry)
+		if mkdirErr != nil {
+			if _, err := f.FindEntry(ctx, util.FullPath(dirPath)); err == filer_pb.ErrNotFound {
+				glog.V(3).Infof("mkdir %s: %v", dirPath, mkdirErr)
+				return fmt.Errorf("mkdir %s: %v", dirPath, mkdirErr)
+			}
+		} else {
+			f.maybeAddBucket(dirEntry)
+			f.NotifyUpdateEvent(ctx, nil, dirEntry, false, isFromOtherCluster, nil)
+		}
+
+	} else if !dirEntry.IsDirectory() {
+		glog.Errorf("CreateEntry %s: %s should be a directory", entry.FullPath, dirPath)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is a file", dirPath)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (f *Filer) UpdateEntry(ctx context.Context, oldEntry, entry *Entry) (err error) {
 	if oldEntry != nil {
 		entry.Attr.Crtime = oldEntry.Attr.Crtime