diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e723218..341f336 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ ifneq ($(KBUILD_OUTPUT),)
 # Invoke a second make in the output directory, passing relevant variables
 # check that the output directory actually exists
 saved-output := $(KBUILD_OUTPUT)
-KBUILD_OUTPUT := $(shell cd $(KBUILD_OUTPUT) && /bin/pwd)
+KBUILD_OUTPUT := $(shell mkdir -p $(KBUILD_OUTPUT) && cd $(KBUILD_OUTPUT) \
+								&& /bin/pwd)
 $(if $(KBUILD_OUTPUT),, \
      $(error output directory "$(saved-output)" does not exist))