diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index 002276b6d..a3b765391 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Bugfixes:
  * SMTChecker: Fix false negative in modifier applied multiple times.
  * SMTChecker: Fix internal error in the BMC engine when inherited contract from a different source unit has private state variables.
  * SMTChecker: Fix internal error when ``array.push()`` is used as the LHS of an assignment.
+ * Command Line Interface: Fix write error when the directory passed to ``--output-dir`` ends with a slash.
  * SMTChecker: Fix CHC false positives when branches are used inside modifiers.
  * Code generator: Fix missing creation dependency tracking for abstract contracts.
 
diff --git a/solc/CommandLineInterface.cpp b/solc/CommandLineInterface.cpp
index e1c98dcef..aabe0be53 100644
--- a/solc/CommandLineInterface.cpp
+++ b/solc/CommandLineInterface.cpp
@@ -730,12 +730,15 @@ map<string, Json::Value> CommandLineInterface::parseAstFromInput()
 void CommandLineInterface::createFile(string const& _fileName, string const& _data)
 {
 	namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
-	// create directory if not existent
-	fs::path p(m_args.at(g_argOutputDir).as<string>());
-	// Do not try creating the directory if the first item is . or ..
-	if (p.filename() != "." && p.filename() != "..")
-		fs::create_directories(p);
-	string pathName = (p / _fileName).string();
+
+	fs::path outputDir(m_args.at(g_argOutputDir).as<string>());
+
+	// NOTE: create_directories() raises an exception if the path consists solely of '.' or '..'
+	// (or equivalent such as './././.'). Paths like 'a/b/.' and 'a/b/..' are fine though.
+	// The simplest workaround is to use an absolute path.
+	fs::create_directories(fs::absolute(outputDir));
+
+	string pathName = (outputDir / _fileName).string();
 	if (fs::exists(pathName) && !m_args.count(g_strOverwrite))
 	{
 		serr() << "Refusing to overwrite existing file \"" << pathName << "\" (use --" << g_strOverwrite << " to force)." << endl;