diff --git a/backend/config/config_manager.py b/backend/config/config_manager.py
index 1c17ad854..283ffbc5d 100644
--- a/backend/config/config_manager.py
+++ b/backend/config/config_manager.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import glob
 import json
 import os
 import sys
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Final, NotRequired, TypedDict
 
 import pydash
@@ -189,16 +190,14 @@ class ConfigManager:
             self._validate_config()
 
     def _create_missing_config_file(self) -> None:
-        log.warning(f"Config file not found, creating an empty config at {hl(self.config_file, BLUE)}")
+        log.warning(
+            f"Config file not found, creating an empty config at {hl(self.config_file, BLUE)}"
+        )
 
         try:
             os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(self.config_file), exist_ok=True)
-            with open(self.config_file, "x"):
-                pass
+            Path(self.config_file).touch(exist_ok=True)
 
-            self._config_file_mounted = True
-            self._config_file_writable = os.access(self.config_file, os.W_OK)
-        except FileExistsError:
             self._config_file_mounted = True
             self._config_file_writable = os.access(self.config_file, os.W_OK)
         except PermissionError:
diff --git a/backend/tests/config/test_config_loader.py b/backend/tests/config/test_config_loader.py
index faa9c8d10..72b57f940 100644
--- a/backend/tests/config/test_config_loader.py
+++ b/backend/tests/config/test_config_loader.py
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ def test_missing_config_file_is_created(tmp_path):
 
     loader = ConfigManager(str(config_file))
 
+    assert config_file.parent.exists()
     assert config_file.exists()
     assert config_file.read_text() == ""
     assert loader.config.CONFIG_FILE_MOUNTED