diff --git a/package/pkg-download.mk b/package/pkg-download.mk
index 3f525ee5e4..3f35661a16 100644
--- a/package/pkg-download.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-download.mk
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ endif
 endif
 
 define DOWNLOAD
+	$(Q)mkdir -p $($(PKG)_DL_DIR)
 	$(Q)$(if $(filter bzr cvs hg svn,$($(PKG)_SITE_METHOD)),
 		BR_NO_CHECK_HASH_FOR=$(notdir $(call qstrip,$(1)))) \
 	$(EXTRA_ENV) $(DL_WRAPPER) \