diff --git a/src/utils/debugLogger.ts b/src/utils/debugLogger.ts
index 98ed36e61a..cbdf95dd0d 100644
--- a/src/utils/debugLogger.ts
+++ b/src/utils/debugLogger.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 import * as debug from 'debug';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
-import * as path from 'path';
 
 const debugLoggerColorMap = {
   'api': 45, // cyan
@@ -34,7 +33,6 @@ class DebugLogger {
 
   constructor() {
     if (process.env.DEBUG_FILE) {
-      fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(process.env.DEBUG_FILE), { recursive: true });
       const ansiRegex = new RegExp([
         '[\\u001B\\u009B][[\\]()#;?]*(?:(?:(?:[a-zA-Z\\d]*(?:;[-a-zA-Z\\d\\/#&.:=?%@~_]*)*)?\\u0007)',
         '(?:(?:\\d{1,4}(?:;\\d{0,4})*)?[\\dA-PR-TZcf-ntqry=><~]))'
diff --git a/test-runner/src/index.ts b/test-runner/src/index.ts
index e9665b290b..98c026b96b 100644
--- a/test-runner/src/index.ts
+++ b/test-runner/src/index.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ export function registerWorkerFixture<T extends keyof(WorkerState & FixtureParam
 type RunResult = 'passed' | 'failed' | 'forbid-only' | 'no-tests';
 
 export async function run(config: RunnerConfig, files: string[], reporter: Reporter): Promise<RunResult> {
+  if (!config.trialRun) {
+    await removeFolderAsync(config.outputDir).catch(e => {});
+    fs.mkdirSync(config.outputDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
   const revertBabelRequire = installTransform();
   let hasSetup = false;
   try {
@@ -93,8 +97,6 @@ export async function run(config: RunnerConfig, files: string[], reporter: Repor
   // Trial run does not need many workers, use one.
   const jobs = (config.trialRun || config.debug) ? 1 : config.jobs;
   const runner = new Runner(suite, { ...config, jobs }, reporter);
-  await removeFolderAsync(config.outputDir).catch(e => {});
-  fs.mkdirSync(config.outputDir, { recursive: true });
   try {
     for (const f of beforeFunctions)
       await f();