diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java
index 4a16dd1dd..77679f88c 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ public final class FileUtils {
 				}
 				else {
 					if (!file.exists()) {
+						if (file.getParent() != null) {
+							new File(file.getParent()).mkdirs();
+						}
 						if (!createNewFile(file)) {
 							throw new ItemStreamException("Output file was not created: [" + file.getAbsolutePath()
 									+ "]");
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java
index d0adae092..b4091f0c7 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java
@@ -109,6 +109,29 @@ public class FileUtilsTests {
 			dir1.delete();
 		}
 	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * If the directories on the file path do not exist, they should be created
+	 * This must be true also in append mode
+	 */
+	@Test
+	public void testCreateDirectoryStructureAppendMode() {
+		File file = new File("testDirectory/testDirectory2/testFile.tmp");
+		File dir1 = new File("testDirectory");
+		File dir2 = new File("testDirectory/testDirectory2");
+
+		try {
+			FileUtils.setUpOutputFile(file, false, true, false);
+			assertTrue(file.exists());
+			assertTrue(dir1.exists());
+			assertTrue(dir2.exists());
+		}
+		finally {
+			file.delete();
+			dir2.delete();
+			dir1.delete();
+		}
+	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testBadFile(){