diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3a9b4a17f19d..1b42326e3b4e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -117,9 +117,10 @@ 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))
+     $(error failed to create output directory "$(saved-output)"))
 
 PHONY += $(MAKECMDGOALS) sub-make