diff --git a/cwltool/job.py b/cwltool/job.py
index 65a92f312..82b8673e6 100644
--- a/cwltool/job.py
+++ b/cwltool/job.py
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ def add_volumes(self, pathmapper, runtime):
                     ensure_writable(host_outdir_tgt)
             elif vol.type == "WritableDirectory":
                 if vol.resolved.startswith("_:"):
-                    os.makedirs(vol.target, 0o0755)
+                    os.makedirs(host_outdir_tgt, 0o0755)
                 else:
                     if self.inplace_update:
                         runtime.append(u"--volume=%s:%s:rw" % (