diff --git a/beets/dbcore/db.py b/beets/dbcore/db.py
index 397dbcedf..acd131be2 100755
--- a/beets/dbcore/db.py
+++ b/beets/dbcore/db.py
@@ -901,19 +901,8 @@ class Database:
     data is written in a transaction.
     """
 
-    # Check whether parental directories exist.
-    def _path_checker(self, path):
-        if not isinstance(path, bytes) and path == ':memory:':  # in memory db
-            return
-        newpath = os.path.dirname(path)
-        if not os.path.isdir(newpath):
-            from beets.ui.commands import database_dir_creation
-            if database_dir_creation(newpath):
-                os.makedirs(newpath)
-
     def __init__(self, path, timeout=5.0):
         self.path = path
-        self._path_checker(path)
         self.timeout = timeout
 
         self._connections = {}
diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index 121cb5dc0..b724a963a 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -1206,11 +1206,24 @@ def _configure(options):
               util.displayable_path(config.config_dir()))
     return config
 
+# Check whether parental directories exist.
+
+
+def _check_db_directory_exists(path):
+    if path == b':memory:':  # in memory db
+        return
+    newpath = os.path.dirname(path)
+    if not os.path.isdir(newpath):
+        from beets.ui.commands import database_dir_creation
+        if database_dir_creation(newpath):
+            os.makedirs(newpath)
+
 
 def _open_library(config):
     """Create a new library instance from the configuration.
     """
     dbpath = util.bytestring_path(config['library'].as_filename())
+    _check_db_directory_exists(dbpath)
     try:
         lib = library.Library(
             dbpath,
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 394a2831a..1261b1776 100755
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -1404,7 +1404,8 @@ default_commands.append(version_cmd)
 
 def database_dir_creation(path):
     # Ask the user for a choice.
-    return ui.input_yn("The database directory {} does not exists, create it (Y/n)?"
+    return ui.input_yn("The database directory {} does not \
+                       exists, create it (Y/n)?"
                        .format(displayable_path(path)))
 
 
diff --git a/test/test_dbcore.py b/test/test_dbcore.py
index 95c52196f..80d85c3bb 100644
--- a/test/test_dbcore.py
+++ b/test/test_dbcore.py
@@ -19,11 +19,8 @@ import os
 import shutil
 import sqlite3
 import unittest
-from random import random
-from unittest import mock
 
 from test import _common
-from test.helper import control_stdin
 from beets import dbcore
 from tempfile import mkstemp
 
@@ -763,25 +760,6 @@ class ResultsIteratorTest(unittest.TestCase):
             ModelFixture1, dbcore.query.FalseQuery()).get())
 
 
-class ParentalDirCreation(_common.TestCase):
-    def test_create_yes(self):
-        non_exist_path = _common.util.py3_path(os.path.join(
-            self.temp_dir, b'nonexist', str(random()).encode()))
-        with control_stdin('y'):
-            dbcore.Database(non_exist_path)
-
-    def test_create_no(self):
-        non_exist_path_parent = _common.util.py3_path(
-            os.path.join(self.temp_dir, b'nonexist'))
-        non_exist_path = _common.util.py3_path(os.path.join(
-            non_exist_path_parent.encode(), str(random()).encode()))
-        with control_stdin('n'):
-            dbcore.Database(non_exist_path)
-        if os.path.exists(non_exist_path_parent):
-            shutil.rmtree(non_exist_path_parent)
-            raise OSError("Should not create dir")
-
-
 def suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)
 
diff --git a/test/test_ui_init.py b/test/test_ui_init.py
index bb9a922a5..9f9487a6a 100644
--- a/test/test_ui_init.py
+++ b/test/test_ui_init.py
@@ -15,11 +15,16 @@
 """Test module for file ui/__init__.py
 """
 
-
+import os
+import shutil
 import unittest
-from test import _common
+from random import random
+from copy import deepcopy
 
 from beets import ui
+from test import _common
+from test.helper import control_stdin
+from beets import config
 
 
 class InputMethodsTest(_common.TestCase):
@@ -121,8 +126,39 @@ class InitTest(_common.LibTestCase):
             self.assertEqual(h, ui.human_seconds(i))
 
 
+class ParentalDirCreation(_common.TestCase):
+    def test_create_yes(self):
+        non_exist_path = _common.util.py3_path(os.path.join(
+            self.temp_dir, b'nonexist', str(random()).encode()))
+        # Deepcopy instead of recovering because exceptions might
+        # occcur; wish I can use a golang defer here.
+        test_config = deepcopy(config)
+        test_config['library'] = non_exist_path
+        with control_stdin('y'):
+            ui._open_library(test_config)
+
+    def test_create_no(self):
+        non_exist_path_parent = _common.util.py3_path(
+            os.path.join(self.temp_dir, b'nonexist'))
+        non_exist_path = _common.util.py3_path(os.path.join(
+            non_exist_path_parent.encode(), str(random()).encode()))
+        test_config = deepcopy(config)
+        test_config['library'] = non_exist_path
+
+        with control_stdin('n'):
+            try:
+                ui._open_library(test_config)
+            except ui.UserError:
+                if os.path.exists(non_exist_path_parent):
+                    shutil.rmtree(non_exist_path_parent)
+                    raise OSError("Parent directories should not be created.")
+            else:
+                raise OSError("Parent directories should not be created.")
+
+
 def suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)
 
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main(defaultTest='suite')