diff --git a/carwatch/scripts/prepare_study.py b/carwatch/scripts/prepare_study.py
index 25bcaef..9a5c0bf 100644
--- a/carwatch/scripts/prepare_study.py
+++ b/carwatch/scripts/prepare_study.py
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@
     prompt="Output directory for generated files",
     help="Directory where generated files will be stored.",
     envvar="PATHS",
-    type=click.Path(exists=True, file_okay=False, dir_okay=True),
+    type=click.Path(file_okay=False, dir_okay=True),
 )
 def run(
     sample_prefix: Optional[str] = None,