diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/AssetExportHtml.pm b/lib/WebGUI/AssetExportHtml.pm
index 708004fa1..95b522d41 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/AssetExportHtml.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/AssetExportHtml.pm
@@ -791,14 +791,15 @@ sub exportWriteFile {
     my $dest = $self->exportGetUrlAsPath;
     my $parent = $dest->parent;
 
-    eval { $parent->absolute->mkpath };
-    if($@) {
-        WebGUI::Error->throw(error => "could not make directory " . $parent->absolute->stringify);
+    $parent->absolute->mkpath( {error => \my $err} );
+    if (@$err) {
+        (undef, my $message) = %{ $err->[0] };
+        WebGUI::Error->throw(error => "Could not make directory " . $parent->absolute->stringify . ": " . $message);
     }
 
     # next, get the contents, open the file, and write the contents to the file.
     my $fh = eval { $dest->open('>:utf8') };
-    if($@) {
+    if(! $fh) {
         WebGUI::Error->throw(error => "can't open " . $dest->absolute->stringify . " for writing: $!");
     }
     $self->session->asset($self);