diff --git a/bob/io/base/__init__.py b/bob/io/base/__init__.py
index 5bc81f1fade91100de57e855409d6847c6f7db56..30afaa3c5c80992152491f48e65df3493a00c831 100644
--- a/bob/io/base/__init__.py
+++ b/bob/io/base/__init__.py
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ def _is_string(s):
       isinstance(s, (bytes, str))
 
 
+@numpy.deprecate(new_name="os.makedirs(directory, exist_ok=True)")
 def create_directories_safe(directory, dryrun=False):
   """Creates a directory if it does not exists, with concurrent access support.
   This function will also create any parent directories that might be required.