diff --git a/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.cpp b/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.cpp
index 33ab35fcde..02cdb039ab 100644
--- a/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.cpp
+++ b/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.cpp
@@ -83,12 +83,9 @@ VirtualFile RealVfsFilesystem::OpenFile(std::string_view path_, Mode perms) {
 
 VirtualFile RealVfsFilesystem::CreateFile(std::string_view path_, Mode perms) {
     const auto path = FileUtil::SanitizePath(path_, FileUtil::DirectorySeparator::PlatformDefault);
-    if (!FileUtil::Exists(path))
-        return nullptr;
-    if (!FileUtil::CreateFullPath(
-            FileUtil::SanitizePath(path, FileUtil::DirectorySeparator::ForwardSlash)))
-        return nullptr;
-    if (!FileUtil::CreateEmptyFile(path))
+    const auto path_fwd = FileUtil::SanitizePath(path, FileUtil::DirectorySeparator::ForwardSlash);
+    if (!FileUtil::Exists(path) && !FileUtil::CreateFullPath(path_fwd) &&
+        !FileUtil::CreateEmptyFile(path))
         return nullptr;
     return OpenFile(path, perms);
 }
@@ -145,12 +142,9 @@ VirtualDir RealVfsFilesystem::OpenDirectory(std::string_view path_, Mode perms)
 
 VirtualDir RealVfsFilesystem::CreateDirectory(std::string_view path_, Mode perms) {
     const auto path = FileUtil::SanitizePath(path_, FileUtil::DirectorySeparator::PlatformDefault);
-    if (!FileUtil::Exists(path))
-        return nullptr;
-    if (!FileUtil::CreateFullPath(
-            FileUtil::SanitizePath(path, FileUtil::DirectorySeparator::ForwardSlash)))
-        return nullptr;
-    if (!FileUtil::CreateDir(path))
+    const auto path_fwd = FileUtil::SanitizePath(path, FileUtil::DirectorySeparator::ForwardSlash);
+    if (!FileUtil::Exists(path) && !FileUtil::CreateFullPath(path_fwd) &&
+        !FileUtil::CreateEmptyFile(path))
         return nullptr;
     // Cannot use make_shared as RealVfsDirectory constructor is private
     return std::shared_ptr<RealVfsDirectory>(new RealVfsDirectory(*this, path, perms));
diff --git a/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.h b/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.h
index 8a1e79ef60..989803d435 100644
--- a/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.h
+++ b/src/core/file_sys/vfs_real.h
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <string_view>
-
 #include <boost/container/flat_map.hpp>
 #include "common/file_util.h"
 #include "core/file_sys/mode.h"