diff --git a/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk b/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
index 4d2cb06352..45cae087aa 100644
--- a/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
+++ b/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ define DHCP_INSTALL_INIT_SYSTEMD
 	ln -sf ../../../../usr/lib/systemd/system/dhcpd.service \
 		$(TARGET_DIR)/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/dhcpd.service
 
+	mkdir -p $(TARGET_DIR)/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d
 	echo "d /var/lib/dhcp 0755 - - - -" > \
 		$(TARGET_DIR)/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/dhcpd.conf
 	echo "f /var/lib/dhcp/dhcpd.leases - - - - -" >> \