diff --git a/factsdb/database.py b/factsdb/database.py
index 97aba5f..4d9a6f6 100644
--- a/factsdb/database.py
+++ b/factsdb/database.py
@@ -21,7 +21,20 @@ class DatabaseManager:
             self._init_database()
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Warning: Database initialization failed: {e}")
-            # Continue with minimal functionality or raise the error
+            # Create the directory if it doesn't exist and the path has a directory component
+            import os
+            try:
+                # Check if path has a directory component
+                if os.path.dirname(self.config.path):
+                    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(self.config.path), exist_ok=True)
+                    print(f"Created directory for database: {os.path.dirname(self.config.path)}")
+                else:
+                    # If no directory, ensure current directory is writable
+                    os.makedirs('.', exist_ok=True)
+                    print("Verified current directory is writable")
+            except Exception as dir_error:
+                print(f"Warning: Could not create database directory: {dir_error}")
+            # Re-raise the original error
             raise
     
     def _init_database(self):