diff --git a/docs/source/generate_class_list.py b/docs/source/generate_class_list.py
index 41a941f..951ffdb 100644
--- a/docs/source/generate_class_list.py
+++ b/docs/source/generate_class_list.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import importlib
 import inspect
 import fnmatch
 from io import TextIOWrapper
+import os
 
 
 def write_manual(f: TextIOWrapper, doc_files: list[str], title: str) -> None:
@@ -74,6 +75,9 @@ def write_dochtree(f: TextIOWrapper, title: str, items: list[str]):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # Ensure the output directory exists
+    os.makedirs('docs/source/_autogenerated', exist_ok=True)
+
     with open('docs/source/_autogenerated/index.md', 'w') as f:
         f.write('# Classes and functions\n\n')