diff --git a/patroni/postgresql/config.py b/patroni/postgresql/config.py
index b1f2e69c..ab242b93 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql/config.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql/config.py
@@ -336,8 +336,9 @@ class ConfigHandler(object):
         if "stats_temp_directory" in self._server_parameters:
             self.try_to_create_dir(self._server_parameters["stats_temp_directory"],
                                    "'{}' is defined in stats_temp_directory, {}")
-        self.try_to_create_dir(os.path.dirname(self._pgpass),
-                               "'{}' is defined in `postgresql.pgpass`, {}")
+        if not self._krbsrvname:
+            self.try_to_create_dir(os.path.dirname(self._pgpass),
+                                   "'{}' is defined in `postgresql.pgpass`, {}")
 
     @property
     def _configuration_to_save(self):