diff --git a/src/or/config.c b/src/or/config.c
index 8ca89b6a77..554ccb60cd 100644
--- a/src/or/config.c
+++ b/src/or/config.c
@@ -5961,6 +5961,43 @@ options_get_datadir_fname2_suffix(const or_options_t *options,
   return fname;
 }
 
+/** Check wether the data directory has a private subdirectory
+ * <b>subdir</b>. If not, try to create it. Return 0 on success,
+ * -1 otherwise. */
+int
+check_or_create_data_subdir(const char *subdir)
+{
+  char *statsdir = get_datadir_fname(subdir);
+  int return_val = 0;
+
+  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0) {
+    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to create %s/ directory!", subdir);
+    return_val = -1;
+  }
+  tor_free(statsdir);
+  return return_val;
+}
+
+/** Create a file named <b>fname</b> with contents <b>str</b> in the
+ * subdirectory <b>subdir</b> of the data directory. <b>descr</b>
+ * should be a short description of the file's content and will be
+ * used for the warning message, if it's present and the write process
+ * fails. Return 0 on success, -1 otherwise.*/
+int
+write_to_data_subdir(const char* subdir, const char* fname,
+                     const char* str, const char* descr)
+{
+  char *filename = get_datadir_fname2(subdir, fname);
+  int return_val = 0;
+
+  if (write_str_to_file(filename, str, 0) < 0) {
+    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to write %s to disk!", descr ? descr : fname);
+    return_val = -1;
+  }
+  tor_free(filename);
+  return return_val;
+}
+
 /** Given a file name check to see whether the file exists but has not been
  * modified for a very long time.  If so, remove it. */
 void
diff --git a/src/or/config.h b/src/or/config.h
index fbdedcfb50..0250f645d0 100644
--- a/src/or/config.h
+++ b/src/or/config.h
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ char *options_get_datadir_fname2_suffix(const or_options_t *options,
 #define get_datadir_fname_suffix(sub1, suffix) \
   get_datadir_fname2_suffix((sub1), NULL, (suffix))
 
+int check_or_create_data_subdir(const char *subdir);
+int write_to_data_subdir(const char* subdir, const char* fname,
+                         const char* str, const char* descr);
+
 int get_num_cpus(const or_options_t *options);
 
 const smartlist_t *get_configured_ports(void);
diff --git a/src/or/geoip.c b/src/or/geoip.c
index e2e98e8ec4..73ad211881 100644
--- a/src/or/geoip.c
+++ b/src/or/geoip.c
@@ -1132,7 +1132,7 @@ geoip_format_dirreq_stats(time_t now)
 time_t
 geoip_dirreq_stats_write(time_t now)
 {
-  char *statsdir = NULL, *filename = NULL, *str = NULL;
+  char *str = NULL;
 
   if (!start_of_dirreq_stats_interval)
     return 0; /* Not initialized. */
@@ -1146,21 +1146,13 @@ geoip_dirreq_stats_write(time_t now)
   str = geoip_format_dirreq_stats(now);
 
   /* Write dirreq-stats string to disk. */
-  statsdir = get_datadir_fname("stats");
-  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0) {
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to create stats/ directory!");
-    goto done;
+  if (check_or_create_data_subdir("stats") < 0) {
+    write_to_data_subdir("stats", "dirreq-stats", str, "dirreq statistics");
+    /* Reset measurement interval start. */
+    geoip_reset_dirreq_stats(now);
   }
-  filename = get_datadir_fname2("stats", "dirreq-stats");
-  if (write_str_to_file(filename, str, 0) < 0)
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to write dirreq statistics to disk!");
-
-  /* Reset measurement interval start. */
-  geoip_reset_dirreq_stats(now);
 
  done:
-  tor_free(statsdir);
-  tor_free(filename);
   tor_free(str);
   return start_of_dirreq_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL;
 }
@@ -1297,7 +1289,7 @@ format_bridge_stats_controller(time_t now)
 time_t
 geoip_bridge_stats_write(time_t now)
 {
-  char *filename = NULL, *val = NULL, *statsdir = NULL;
+  char *val = NULL;
 
   /* Check if 24 hours have passed since starting measurements. */
   if (now < start_of_bridge_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL)
@@ -1317,24 +1309,20 @@ geoip_bridge_stats_write(time_t now)
   start_of_bridge_stats_interval = now;
 
   /* Write it to disk. */
-  statsdir = get_datadir_fname("stats");
-  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0)
-    goto done;
-  filename = get_datadir_fname2("stats", "bridge-stats");
+  if (!check_or_create_data_subdir("stats")) {
+    write_to_data_subdir("stats", "bridge-stats",
+            bridge_stats_extrainfo, "bridge statistics");
 
-  write_str_to_file(filename, bridge_stats_extrainfo, 0);
-
-  /* Tell the controller, "hey, there are clients!" */
-  {
-    char *controller_str = format_bridge_stats_controller(now);
-    if (controller_str)
-      control_event_clients_seen(controller_str);
-    tor_free(controller_str);
+    /* Tell the controller, "hey, there are clients!" */
+    {
+      char *controller_str = format_bridge_stats_controller(now);
+      if (controller_str)
+        control_event_clients_seen(controller_str);
+      tor_free(controller_str);
+    }
   }
- done:
-  tor_free(filename);
-  tor_free(statsdir);
 
+ done:
   return start_of_bridge_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL;
 }
 
@@ -1436,7 +1424,7 @@ geoip_format_entry_stats(time_t now)
 time_t
 geoip_entry_stats_write(time_t now)
 {
-  char *statsdir = NULL, *filename = NULL, *str = NULL;
+  char *str = NULL;
 
   if (!start_of_entry_stats_interval)
     return 0; /* Not initialized. */
@@ -1450,21 +1438,14 @@ geoip_entry_stats_write(time_t now)
   str = geoip_format_entry_stats(now);
 
   /* Write entry-stats string to disk. */
-  statsdir = get_datadir_fname("stats");
-  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0) {
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to create stats/ directory!");
-    goto done;
-  }
-  filename = get_datadir_fname2("stats", "entry-stats");
-  if (write_str_to_file(filename, str, 0) < 0)
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to write entry statistics to disk!");
+  if (!check_or_create_data_subdir("stats")) {
+      write_to_data_subdir("stats", "entry-stats", str, "entry statistics");
 
-  /* Reset measurement interval start. */
-  geoip_reset_entry_stats(now);
+      /* Reset measurement interval start. */
+      geoip_reset_entry_stats(now);
+  }
 
  done:
-  tor_free(statsdir);
-  tor_free(filename);
   tor_free(str);
   return start_of_entry_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL;
 }
diff --git a/src/or/rephist.c b/src/or/rephist.c
index 55f321d5ff..c84322a679 100644
--- a/src/or/rephist.c
+++ b/src/or/rephist.c
@@ -2313,7 +2313,7 @@ rep_hist_format_exit_stats(time_t now)
 time_t
 rep_hist_exit_stats_write(time_t now)
 {
-  char *statsdir = NULL, *filename = NULL, *str = NULL;
+  char *str = NULL;
 
   if (!start_of_exit_stats_interval)
     return 0; /* Not initialized. */
@@ -2329,19 +2329,12 @@ rep_hist_exit_stats_write(time_t now)
   rep_hist_reset_exit_stats(now);
 
   /* Try to write to disk. */
-  statsdir = get_datadir_fname("stats");
-  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0) {
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to create stats/ directory!");
-    goto done;
+  if (!check_or_create_data_subdir("stats")) {
+    write_to_data_subdir("stats", "exit-stats", str, "exit port statistics");
   }
-  filename = get_datadir_fname2("stats", "exit-stats");
-  if (write_str_to_file(filename, str, 0) < 0)
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to write exit port statistics to disk!");
 
  done:
   tor_free(str);
-  tor_free(statsdir);
-  tor_free(filename);
   return start_of_exit_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL;
 }
 
@@ -2598,7 +2591,7 @@ time_t
 rep_hist_buffer_stats_write(time_t now)
 {
   circuit_t *circ;
-  char *statsdir = NULL, *filename = NULL, *str = NULL;
+  char *str = NULL;
 
   if (!start_of_buffer_stats_interval)
     return 0; /* Not initialized. */
@@ -2617,19 +2610,12 @@ rep_hist_buffer_stats_write(time_t now)
   rep_hist_reset_buffer_stats(now);
 
   /* Try to write to disk. */
-  statsdir = get_datadir_fname("stats");
-  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0) {
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to create stats/ directory!");
-    goto done;
+  if (!check_or_create_data_subdir("stats")) {
+    write_to_data_subdir("stats", "buffer-stats", str, "buffer statistics");
   }
-  filename = get_datadir_fname2("stats", "buffer-stats");
-  if (write_str_to_file(filename, str, 0) < 0)
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to write buffer stats to disk!");
 
  done:
   tor_free(str);
-  tor_free(filename);
-  tor_free(statsdir);
   return start_of_buffer_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL;
 }
 
@@ -2741,7 +2727,7 @@ rep_hist_format_desc_stats(time_t now)
 time_t
 rep_hist_desc_stats_write(time_t now)
 {
-  char *statsdir = NULL, *filename = NULL, *str = NULL;
+  char *filename = NULL, *str = NULL;
 
   if (!start_of_served_descs_stats_interval)
     return 0; /* We're not collecting stats. */
@@ -2751,10 +2737,8 @@ rep_hist_desc_stats_write(time_t now)
   str = rep_hist_format_desc_stats(now);
   tor_assert(str != NULL);
 
-  statsdir = get_datadir_fname("stats");
-  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0) {
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to create stats/ directory!");
-      goto done;
+  if (check_or_create_data_subdir("stats") < 0) {
+    goto done;
   }
   filename = get_datadir_fname2("stats", "served-desc-stats");
   if (append_bytes_to_file(filename, str, strlen(str), 0) < 0)
@@ -2763,7 +2747,6 @@ rep_hist_desc_stats_write(time_t now)
   rep_hist_reset_desc_stats(now);
 
  done:
-  tor_free(statsdir);
   tor_free(filename);
   tor_free(str);
   return start_of_served_descs_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL;
@@ -2981,7 +2964,7 @@ rep_hist_format_conn_stats(time_t now)
 time_t
 rep_hist_conn_stats_write(time_t now)
 {
-  char *statsdir = NULL, *filename = NULL, *str = NULL;
+  char *str = NULL;
 
   if (!start_of_conn_stats_interval)
     return 0; /* Not initialized. */
@@ -2995,19 +2978,12 @@ rep_hist_conn_stats_write(time_t now)
   rep_hist_reset_conn_stats(now);
 
   /* Try to write to disk. */
-  statsdir = get_datadir_fname("stats");
-  if (check_private_dir(statsdir, CPD_CREATE, get_options()->User) < 0) {
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to create stats/ directory!");
-    goto done;
+  if (!check_or_create_data_subdir("stats")) {
+    write_to_data_subdir("stats", "conn-stats", str, "connection statistics");
   }
-  filename = get_datadir_fname2("stats", "conn-stats");
-  if (write_str_to_file(filename, str, 0) < 0)
-    log_warn(LD_HIST, "Unable to write conn stats to disk!");
 
  done:
   tor_free(str);
-  tor_free(filename);
-  tor_free(statsdir);
   return start_of_conn_stats_interval + WRITE_STATS_INTERVAL;
 }