diff --git a/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/analyzer/ArchiveAnalyzer.java b/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/analyzer/ArchiveAnalyzer.java
index 9614c7142..25bb036eb 100644
--- a/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/analyzer/ArchiveAnalyzer.java
+++ b/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/analyzer/ArchiveAnalyzer.java
@@ -145,7 +145,10 @@ public class ArchiveAnalyzer extends AbstractAnalyzer implements Analyzer {
     public void initialize() throws Exception {
         final File baseDir = Settings.getTempDirectory();
         if (!baseDir.exists()) {
-            baseDir.mkdirs();
+            if (!baseDir.mkdirs()) {
+                final String msg = String.format("Unable to make a temporary folder '%s'", baseDir.getPath());
+                throw new AnalysisException(msg);
+            }
         }
         tempFileLocation = File.createTempFile("check", "tmp", baseDir);
         if (!tempFileLocation.delete()) {