diff --git a/sed/loader/fel/config_model.py b/sed/loader/fel/config_model.py
index 090e89ad..f8c11c52 100644
--- a/sed/loader/fel/config_model.py
+++ b/sed/loader/fel/config_model.py
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ class DataPaths(BaseModel):
     data_raw_dir: DirectoryPath
     data_parquet_dir: DirectoryPath
 
+    @field_validator("data_parquet_dir", mode="before")
+    @classmethod
+    def check_and_create_parquet_dir(cls, v):
+        v = Path(v)
+        if not v.is_dir():
+            v.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        return v
+
     @classmethod
     def from_beamtime_dir(
         cls,
diff --git a/tests/data/loader/flash/parquet/.gitignore b/tests/data/loader/flash/parquet/.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29b..00000000
diff --git a/tests/data/loader/sxp/parquet/.gitignore b/tests/data/loader/sxp/parquet/.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29b..00000000