diff --git a/src/pylorax/__init__.py b/src/pylorax/__init__.py
index c8e26919..338661da 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/__init__.py
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ class Lorax(BaseLoraxClass):
                                                 updatesdir=updatesdir)
 
         # create the output directory
-        assert not os.path.isdir(outputdir), "output directory exists"
         self.outputdir = outputdir
         makedirs_(self.outputdir)