title: os.mkdir(path) returns OSError when directory does not exist
body: <p>I am calling <code>os.mkdir</code> to create a folder with a certain set of generated data. However, even though the path I specified has not been created, the <code>os.mkdir(path)</code> raises an OSError that the path already exists.</p>
  
  <p>For example, I call:</p>
  
  <pre><code>os.mkdir(test)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This call results in <code>OSError: [Errno 17] File exists: 'test'</code> even though I don't have a test directory or a file named test anywhere.</p>
  
  <p>NOTE: the actual path name I use is not "test" but something more obscure that I'm sure is not named anywhere.</p>
  
  <p>Help, please?</p>