diff --git a/R/download.R b/R/download.R
index 3d39a7b..0ba3b75 100644
--- a/R/download.R
+++ b/R/download.R
@@ -2279,7 +2279,7 @@ download_koppen_geiger <- function(
 #' @return
 #' * For \code{hash = FALSE}, NULL
 #' * For \code{hash = TRUE}, an \code{rlang::hash_file} character.
-#' * HDF (.hdf) files will be stored in
+#' * HDF (.hdf) files will be stored in year/day_of_year sub-directories within
 #' \code{directory_to_save}.
 #' @importFrom Rdpack reprompt
 #' @references
@@ -2493,6 +2493,7 @@ download_modis <- function(
       nasa_earth_data_token,
       "\" -O ",
       directory_to_save,
+      splitter,
       download_name,
       "\n"
     )
@@ -2500,10 +2501,19 @@ download_modis <- function(
     #### filter commands to non-existing files
     download_command <- download_command[
       which(
-        !file.exists(paste0(directory_to_save, download_name))
+        !file.exists(paste0(directory_to_save, splitter, download_name))
       )
     ]
 
+    new_dirs <- unique(
+      sprintf("%s%s", directory_to_save, splitter)
+    )
+
+    lapply(
+      new_dirs,
+      function(x) dir.create(x, recursive = TRUE, showWarnings = FALSE)
+    )
+
     # avoid any possible errors by removing existing command files
     download_sink(commands_txt)
     #### cat command only if file does not already exist
diff --git a/man/download_modis.Rd b/man/download_modis.Rd
index 9e92cec..6c5945e 100644
--- a/man/download_modis.Rd
+++ b/man/download_modis.Rd
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ downloaded files. Default is \code{FALSE}.}
 \itemize{
 \item For \code{hash = FALSE}, NULL
 \item For \code{hash = TRUE}, an \code{rlang::hash_file} character.
-\item HDF (.hdf) files will be stored in
+\item HDF (.hdf) files will be stored in year/day_of_year sub-directories within
 \code{directory_to_save}.
 }
 }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-terraclimate.R b/tests/testthat/test-terraclimate.R
index 2c6a9f5..ed42fe1 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-terraclimate.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-terraclimate.R
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ testthat::test_that("download_terraclimate (single year)", {
   # function parameters
   year <- 2019
   variables <- "Precipitation"
-  directory_to_save <- paste0(tempdir(), "/terracclimate/")
+  directory_to_save <- paste0(tempdir(), "/terraclimate/")
   # run download function
   download_data(dataset_name = "terraclimate",
                 year = year,