diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py b/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py
index fe0c928e1..df3a7e3f0 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/standarddir.py
@@ -163,8 +163,11 @@ def _get(typ):
     #     non-existant an attempt should be made to create it with permission
     #     0700. If the destination directory exists already the permissions
     #     should not be changed.
-    if path is not None and not os.path.exists(path):
-        os.makedirs(path, 0o700)
+    if path is not None:
+        try:
+            os.makedirs(path, 0o700)
+        except FileExistsError:
+            pass
     return path
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py
index 1fe9bb67d..1302034e1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_standarddir.py
@@ -316,3 +316,23 @@ class TestCreatingDir:
 
         if os.name == 'posix':
             assert basedir.stat().mode & 0o777 == 0o700
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('typ', DIR_TYPES)
+    def test_exists_race_condition(self, mocker, tmpdir, typ):
+        """Make sure there can't be a TOCTOU issue when creating the file.
+
+        See https://github.com/The-Compiler/qutebrowser/issues/942.
+        """
+        (tmpdir / typ).ensure(dir=True)
+
+        m = mocker.patch('qutebrowser.utils.standarddir.os')
+        m.makedirs = os.makedirs
+        m.sep = os.sep
+        m.path.join = os.path.join
+        m.path.exists.return_value = False
+
+        args = types.SimpleNamespace(basedir=str(tmpdir))
+        standarddir.init(args)
+
+        func = getattr(standarddir, typ)
+        func()