diff --git a/contribute.py b/contribute.py
index a8c76e102786d7e3bc83865a7fc45b52a963b6a4..ea625ac904b127a1f0fc68bfb19110657e34a89e 100644
--- a/contribute.py
+++ b/contribute.py
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ def main(date, name):
     # get the root directory
     rootDir = os.getcwd()
 
+    # create a root directory if not existing
+    if not os.path.exists(mainDir):
+        os.mkdir(mainDir)
+
     # generate the full name of the presentation
     fullName = date + "_" + name