diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/test_tasks.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/test_tasks.py
index 82a8e1809f..bdfeda6c24 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/test_tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/test_tasks.py
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ class TestJobExecution(object):
 @pytest.fixture
 def private_data_dir():
     private_data = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='awx_')
+    for subfolder in ('inventory', 'env'):
+        runner_subfolder = os.path.join(private_data, subfolder)
+        if not os.path.exists(runner_subfolder):
+            os.mkdir(runner_subfolder)
     yield private_data
     shutil.rmtree(private_data, True)