diff --git a/scripts/vendor_playbook.sh b/scripts/vendor_playbook.sh
index ad7316c..2a0bfde 100644
--- a/scripts/vendor_playbook.sh
+++ b/scripts/vendor_playbook.sh
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ fi
 
 timestamp="$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S 2>/dev/null || echo bak)"
 
-mkdir -p "$PROJECT_ROOT"
+if [ ! -d "$PROJECT_ROOT" ]; then
+  echo "ERROR: project root does not exist: $PROJECT_ROOT" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
 PROJECT_ROOT_ABS="$(CDPATH= cd -- "$PROJECT_ROOT" && pwd -P)"
 DEST_PREFIX="$PROJECT_ROOT_ABS/docs/standards/playbook"
 DEST_STANDARDS="$PROJECT_ROOT_ABS/docs/standards"