diff --git a/salt/grafana/etc/files/readme.txt b/salt/grafana/etc/files/readme.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c78e8687c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/salt/grafana/etc/files/readme.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+For files that are referenced inside the Grafana config, place them in /opt/so/saltstack/local/salt/grafana/etc/files/. This would include keys used for smtp or a Grafana enterprise license file.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/salt/grafana/init.sls b/salt/grafana/init.sls
index ec4e02e7e..9c596ca98 100644
--- a/salt/grafana/init.sls
+++ b/salt/grafana/init.sls
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ grafana-dashboard-config:
     - group: 939
     - template: jinja
     - source: salt://grafana/etc/dashboards/dashboard.yml
+    - makedirs: True
+
 
 grafana-datasources-config:
   file.managed:
@@ -94,6 +96,7 @@ grafana-datasources-config:
     - group: 939
     - template: jinja
     - source: salt://grafana/etc/datasources/influxdb.yaml
+    - makedirs: True
 
 grafana-config:
   file.managed: