diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 36a6ed515..b3fc8f448 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ export: www
 	$(RSYNC) $(RSYNC_FLAGS) --exclude=".svn/" www/ $(DESTDIR)/
 
 $(DATESTAMP):
+	mkdir -p build
 	$(RM) $(wildcard build/.stamp-*)
 	touch $@