diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/save.py b/src/calibre/gui2/save.py
index 1958a500ff..44a47cee64 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/save.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/save.py
@@ -212,11 +212,14 @@ class Saver(QObject):
         if not fmts and not self.opts.write_opf and not self.opts.save_cover:
             return
 
-        try:
-            os.makedirs(base_dir)
-        except EnvironmentError as err:
-            if err.errno != errno.EEXIST:
-                raise
+        # On windows python incorrectly raises an access denied exception
+        # when trying to create the root of a drive, like C:\
+        if os.path.dirname(base_dir) != base_dir:
+            try:
+                os.makedirs(base_dir)
+            except EnvironmentError as err:
+                if err.errno != errno.EEXIST:
+                    raise
 
         if self.opts.update_metadata:
             d = {}