diff --git a/tools/h5diff/testh5diff.sh b/tools/h5diff/testh5diff.sh
index 902dca82738..e39ebc49c80 100755
--- a/tools/h5diff/testh5diff.sh
+++ b/tools/h5diff/testh5diff.sh
@@ -68,8 +68,12 @@ TOOLTEST() {
       fi
    ) >$actual 2>$actual_err
    cat $actual_err >> $actual
-    
-   if $CMP $expect $actual; then
+
+   if [ ! -f $expect ]; then
+   # Create the expect file if it doesn't yet exist.
+      echo " CREATED"
+      cp $actual $expect
+   elif $CMP $expect $actual; then
       echo " PASSED"
    else
       echo "*FAILED*"