diff --git a/larch/wxlib/cif_browser.py b/larch/wxlib/cif_browser.py
index b8e4ddb51..76049f74e 100644
--- a/larch/wxlib/cif_browser.py
+++ b/larch/wxlib/cif_browser.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 from larch import Group
 from larch.xafs import feff8l, feff6l
 from larch.xrd.cif2feff import cif_sites
-from larch.utils import read_textfile
+from larch.utils import read_textfile, mkdir
 from larch.utils.paths import unixpath
 from larch.utils.strutils import fix_filename, unique_name, strict_ascii
 from larch.site_config import user_larchdir
@@ -87,10 +87,8 @@ def __init__(self, parent=None, _larch=None, with_feff=False,
 
         if with_feff:
             self.larch.eval("if not hasattr('_sys', '_feffruns'): _sys._feffruns = {}")
-            path = unixpath(os.path.join(user_larchdir, 'feff'))
-            if not os.path.exists(path):
-                os.makedirs(path, mode=493)
-            self.feff_folder = path
+            self.feff_folder = unixpath(os.path.join(user_larchdir, 'feff'))
+            mkdir(self.feff_folder)
             self.feffruns_list = []
             for fname in os.listdir(self.feff_folder):
                 full = os.path.join(self.feff_folder, fname)
@@ -539,14 +537,11 @@ def onRunFeff(self, event=None):
         fname = self.wids['feff_runfolder'].GetValue()
         fname = unique_name(fix_filename(fname), self.feffruns_list)
         self.feffruns_list.append(fname)
-        folder = unixpath(os.path.join(self.feff_folder, fname))
-
-        if not os.path.exists(folder):
-            os.makedirs(folder, mode=493)
+        self.folder = unixpath(os.path.join(self.feff_folder, fname))
+        mkdir(self.folder)
         ix, p = self.get_nbpage('Feff Output')
         self.nb.SetSelection(ix)
 
-        self.folder = folder
         out = self.wids['feffout_text']
         out.Clear()
         out.SetInsertionPoint(0)
@@ -690,11 +685,8 @@ def onFeffFolder(self, eventa=None):
         dlg.SetPath(self.feff_folder)
         if  dlg.ShowModal() == wx.ID_CANCEL:
             return None
-        path = os.path.abspath(dlg.GetPath())
-        if not os.path.exists(path):
-            os.makedirs(path, mode=493)
-        self.feff_folder = path
-
+        self.feff_folder = os.path.abspath(dlg.GetPath())
+        mkdir(self.feff_folder)
 
     def onNBChanged(self, event=None):
         callback = getattr(self.nb.GetCurrentPage(), 'onPanelExposed', None)
diff --git a/larch/wxlib/feff_browser.py b/larch/wxlib/feff_browser.py
index 695b8578e..ad09c8bad 100644
--- a/larch/wxlib/feff_browser.py
+++ b/larch/wxlib/feff_browser.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 import larch
 from larch.site_config import user_larchdir
-from larch.utils import unixpath, read_textfile
+from larch.utils import unixpath, mkdir, read_textfile
 from larch.wxlib import (GridPanel, GUIColors, Button, pack, SimpleText,
                          FileOpen, FileSave, Font, LEFT, FRAMESTYLE,
                          FONTSIZE, MenuItem, EditableListBox, OkCancel,
@@ -381,10 +381,8 @@ def __init__(self,  parent=None, feffresult=None, path_importer=None, _larch=Non
             self.larch.symtable._sys._feffruns = {}
         self.parent = parent
 
-        path = unixpath(os.path.join(user_larchdir, 'feff'))
-        if not os.path.exists(path):
-            os.makedirs(path, mode=493)
-        self.feff_folder = path
+        self.feff_folder = unixpath(os.path.join(user_larchdir, 'feff'))
+        mkdir(self.feff_folder)
 
         self.SetTitle(title)
         self.SetSize((925, 650))
@@ -519,10 +517,8 @@ def onFeffFolder(self, event=None):
         dlg.SetPath(self.feff_folder)
         if  dlg.ShowModal() == wx.ID_CANCEL:
             return None
-        path = os.path.abspath(dlg.GetPath())
-        if not os.path.exists(path):
-            os.makedirs(path, mode=493)
-        self.feff_folder = path
+        self.feff_folder = os.path.abspath(dlg.GetPath())
+        mkdir(self.feff_folder)
 
     def onImportFeffCalc(self, event=None):
         "prompt to import Feff calculation folder"
diff --git a/larch/wxlib/plotter.py b/larch/wxlib/plotter.py
index cec7b3701..b3f694c29 100644
--- a/larch/wxlib/plotter.py
+++ b/larch/wxlib/plotter.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 from wxmplot.interactive import get_wxapp
 
 import larch
+from ..utils import mkdir
 from ..xrf import isLarchMCAGroup
 from ..larchlib import ensuremod
 from ..site_config import user_larchdir
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@
 os.environ['MPLCONFIGDIR'] = mpl_dir
 if not os.path.exists(mpl_dir):
     try:
-        os.makedirs(mpl_dir)
+        mkdir(mpl_dir)
     except:
         pass