diff --git a/packages/network/dropbear/init.d/22_sshd b/packages/network/dropbear/init.d/22_sshd
index ab11458c62..055b3cacbf 100755
--- a/packages/network/dropbear/init.d/22_sshd
+++ b/packages/network/dropbear/init.d/22_sshd
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     if [ ! -f /etc/dropbear/dropbear_rsa_host_key ] ; then
       progress "SSH: generating rsa key"
 
-      mkdir -p /etc/dropbear
+      $IONICE mkdir -p /etc/dropbear
       /usr/bin/dropbearkey -t rsa -f /etc/dropbear/dropbear_rsa_host_key > /dev/null 2>&1
     fi
 
@@ -15,15 +15,15 @@
     if [ ! -f /etc/dropbear/dropbear_dss_host_key ] ; then
       progress "SSH: generating dsa key"
 
-      mkdir -p /etc/dropbear
+      $IONICE mkdir -p /etc/dropbear
       /usr/bin/dropbearkey -t dss -f /etc/dropbear/dropbear_dss_host_key > /dev/null 2>&1
     fi
 
   progress "Starting SSH Server"
 
-  mkdir -p /var/log
-    touch /var/log/lastlog
-    touch /var/log/wtmp
+  $IONICE mkdir -p /var/log
+    $IONICE touch /var/log/lastlog
+    $IONICE touch /var/log/wtmp
 
   dropbear -b /etc/issue -P /var/run/dropbear.pid