diff --git a/zk_shell/shell.py b/zk_shell/shell.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/zk_shell/shell.py
+++ b/zk_shell/shell.py
@@ -571,6 +571,9 @@ class Shell(AugumentedCmd):
                             makepath=params.recursive)
         except NodeExistsError:
             self.do_output("Path %s exists", params.path)
+        except NoNodeError:
+            self.do_output("Part of the parent path for %s doesn't exist (try recursive)",
+                           params.path)
 
     complete_create = _complete_path
Catch NoNodeError for create() (for when part of the parent is missing)