diff --git a/xtrabackup/backup_tools.py b/xtrabackup/backup_tools.py
index bd708e0..77a5a30 100644
--- a/xtrabackup/backup_tools.py
+++ b/xtrabackup/backup_tools.py
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ def check_prerequisites(self, repository):
             raise
 
     def prepare_workdir(self, path):
-        filesystem_utils.mkdir_path(path, 0o755)
+        try:
+            filesystem_utils.mkdir_path(path, 0o755)
+        except exception.ProgramError:
+            self.logger.error('Workdir preparation failed.', exc_info=True)
+            raise
         self.workdir = path + '/xtrabackup_tmp'
         self.logger.debug("Temporary workdir: " + self.workdir)
         if self.compress:
diff --git a/xtrabackup/filesystem_utils.py b/xtrabackup/filesystem_utils.py
index 93860b9..e4f77b3 100644
--- a/xtrabackup/filesystem_utils.py
+++ b/xtrabackup/filesystem_utils.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def mkdir_path(path, mode):
         if exc.errno == errno.EEXIST and os.path.isdir(path):
             pass
         else:
-            raise
+            raise ProgramError("Unable to create directory: " + path)
 
 
 def check_required_binaries(binaries):