diff --git a/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py b/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py
index 0a50dc5e2241..9be57185111d 100644
--- a/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py
+++ b/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py
@@ -645,18 +645,24 @@ def write_tls_certs(self):
                 f"Writing Redpanda node tls key file: {RedpandaService.TLS_SERVER_KEY_FILE}"
             )
             self.logger.debug(open(cert.key, "r").read())
+            node.account.mkdirs(
+                os.path.dirname(RedpandaService.TLS_SERVER_KEY_FILE))
             node.account.copy_to(cert.key, RedpandaService.TLS_SERVER_KEY_FILE)
 
             self.logger.info(
                 f"Writing Redpanda node tls cert file: {RedpandaService.TLS_SERVER_CRT_FILE}"
             )
             self.logger.debug(open(cert.crt, "r").read())
+            node.account.mkdirs(
+                os.path.dirname(RedpandaService.TLS_SERVER_CRT_FILE))
             node.account.copy_to(cert.crt, RedpandaService.TLS_SERVER_CRT_FILE)
 
             self.logger.info(
                 f"Writing Redpanda node tls ca cert file: {RedpandaService.TLS_CA_CRT_FILE}"
             )
             self.logger.debug(open(ca.crt, "r").read())
+            node.account.mkdirs(
+                os.path.dirname(RedpandaService.TLS_CA_CRT_FILE))
             node.account.copy_to(ca.crt, RedpandaService.TLS_CA_CRT_FILE)
 
     def security_config(self):