diff --git a/nerfstudio/viewer/render_panel.py b/nerfstudio/viewer/render_panel.py
index 10d263f8c..83e340757 100644
--- a/nerfstudio/viewer/render_panel.py
+++ b/nerfstudio/viewer/render_panel.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import viser
 import viser.transforms as tf
 from scipy import interpolate
 
+from nerfstudio.utils.rich_utils import CONSOLE
 from nerfstudio.viewer.control_panel import ControlPanel
 
 
@@ -1130,8 +1131,15 @@ def populate_render_tab(
                 }
 
         # now write the json file
-        json_outfile = datapath / "camera_paths" / f"{render_name_text.value}.json"
-        json_outfile.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            json_outfile = datapath / "camera_paths" / f"{render_name_text.value}.json"
+            json_outfile.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        except Exception:
+            CONSOLE.print(
+                "[bold yellow]Warning: Failed to write the camera path to the data directory. Saving to the output directory instead."
+            )
+            json_outfile = config_path.parent / "camera_paths" / f"{render_name_text.value}.json"
+            json_outfile.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         with open(json_outfile.absolute(), "w") as outfile:
             json.dump(json_data, outfile)
         # now show the command