diff --git a/internal/cmd/local/k8s/cluster.go b/internal/cmd/local/k8s/cluster.go
index 0ed7a09..c2fcea3 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/local/k8s/cluster.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/local/k8s/cluster.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package k8s
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/airbytehq/abctl/internal/cmd/local/paths"
+	"github.com/pterm/pterm"
+	"os"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kind/pkg/cluster"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -32,6 +34,12 @@ type kindCluster struct {
 const k8sVersion = "v1.29.1"
 
 func (k *kindCluster) Create(port int) error {
+	pterm.Debug.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Creating data directory '%s'", paths.Data))
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(paths.Data, 0755); err != nil {
+		pterm.Error.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error creating data directory '%s'", paths.Data))
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create directory '%s': %w", paths.Data, err)
+	}
+
 	// see https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/docs/user/ingress/#create-cluster
 	rawCfg := fmt.Sprintf(`kind: Cluster
 apiVersion: kind.x-k8s.io/v1alpha4