diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/git/repository.py b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/git/repository.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/git/repository.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/git/repository.py
@@ -150,8 +150,7 @@ class GitRepository(BaseRepository):
                    bare=False):
         if create and os.path.exists(self.path):
             raise RepositoryError(
-                "Cannot create repository at %s, location already exist"
-                % self.path)
+                f"Cannot create repository at {self.path}, location already exist")
 
         if bare and do_workspace_checkout:
             raise RepositoryError("Cannot update a bare repository")
@@ -162,8 +161,6 @@ class GitRepository(BaseRepository):
                 GitRepository.check_url(src_url, self.config)
 
             if create:
-                os.makedirs(self.path, mode=0o755)
-
                 if bare:
                     self._remote.init_bare()
                 else:
@@ -179,8 +176,7 @@ class GitRepository(BaseRepository):
             else:
                 if not self._remote.assert_correct_path():
                     raise RepositoryError(
-                        'Path "%s" does not contain a Git repository' %
-                        (self.path,))
+                        f'Path "{self.path}" does not contain a Git repository')
 
         # TODO: johbo: check if we have to translate the OSError here
         except OSError as err:
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/svn/repository.py b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/svn/repository.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/svn/repository.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/svn/repository.py
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@ class SubversionRepository(base.BaseRepo
     def _init_repo(self, create, src_url):
         if create and os.path.exists(self.path):
             raise RepositoryError(
-                f"Cannot create repository at {self.path}, location already exist"
-            )
+                f"Cannot create repository at {self.path}, location already exist")
 
         if create:
             self._remote.create_repository(settings.SVN_COMPATIBLE_VERSION)
@@ -97,7 +96,9 @@ class SubversionRepository(base.BaseRepo
                 src_url = _sanitize_url(src_url)
                 self._remote.import_remote_repository(src_url)
         else:
-            self._check_path()
+            if not self._remote.is_path_valid_repository(self.path):
+                raise VCSError(
+                    f'Path "{self.path}" does not contain a Subversion repository')
 
     @CachedProperty
     def commit_ids(self):
@@ -243,13 +244,6 @@ class SubversionRepository(base.BaseRepo
             pass
         return False
 
-    def _check_path(self):
-        if not os.path.exists(self.path):
-            raise VCSError(f'Path "{self.path}" does not exist!')
-        if not self._remote.is_path_valid_repository(self.path):
-            raise VCSError(
-                'Path "%s" does not contain a Subversion repository' %
-                (self.path, ))
 
     @LazyProperty
     def last_change(self):