--- a/solenv/gbuild/ExternalProject.mk
+++ b/solenv/gbuild/ExternalProject.mk
@@ -53,9 +53,11 @@ $(dir $(call gb_ExternalProject_get_target,%)).dir :
 	$(if $(wildcard $(dir $@)),,mkdir -p $(dir $@))
 
 $(call gb_ExternalProject_get_preparation_target,%) :
+	$(if $(wildcard $(dir $@)),,mkdir -p $(dir $@))
 	touch $@
 
 $(call gb_ExternalProject_get_target,%) :
+	$(if $(wildcard $(dir $@)),,mkdir -p $(dir $@))
 	$(call gb_Output_announce,$*,$(true),PRJ,3)
 	touch $@