diff --git a/src/betterproto/plugin/parser.py b/src/betterproto/plugin/parser.py
index 21a2caf14..10901164a 100644
--- a/src/betterproto/plugin/parser.py
+++ b/src/betterproto/plugin/parser.py
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ def generate_code(request: CodeGeneratorRequest) -> CodeGeneratorResponse:
         directory.joinpath("__init__.py")
         for path in output_paths
         for directory in path.parents
+        if not directory.joinpath("__init__.py").exists()
     } - output_paths
 
     for init_file in init_files: