=== modified file 'lisp/files.el'
--- lisp/files.el	2013-02-12 08:36:09 +0000
+++ lisp/files.el	2013-02-13 11:04:03 +0000
@@ -2077,6 +2077,7 @@
   (if noninteractive
       nil
     (let* (not-serious
+	   (dir (file-name-directory buffer-file-name))
 	   (msg
 	    (cond
 	     ((not warn) nil)
@@ -2105,11 +2106,14 @@
 	      "Note: file is write protected")
 	     ((file-attributes (directory-file-name default-directory))
 	      "File not found and directory write-protected")
-	     ((file-exists-p (file-name-directory buffer-file-name))
+	     ((file-exists-p dir)
 	      (setq buffer-read-only nil))
 	     (t
 	      (setq buffer-read-only nil)
-	      "Use M-x make-directory RET RET to create the directory and its parents"))))
+	      (if (not (y-or-n-p (format "Directory `%s' does not exist; create? " dir)))
+		  "Use M-x make-directory RET RET to create the directory and its parents"
+		(make-directory dir t)
+		(format "Directory %s has been created" dir))))))
       (when msg
 	(message "%s" msg)
 	(or not-serious (sit-for 1 t))))