diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index c1b9fe2e59..47238f2649 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -273,9 +273,9 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_built::
 
 # Install to host dir
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_host_installed:
+	@mkdir -p $(HOST_DIR)
 	@$(call step_start,install-host)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to host directory")
-	@mkdir -p $(HOST_DIR)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 	+$($(PKG)_INSTALL_CMDS)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_INSTALL_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -303,9 +303,9 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_host_installed:
 # empty when we use an internal toolchain.
 #
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_staging_installed:
+	@mkdir -p $(STAGING_DIR)
 	@$(call step_start,install-staging)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to staging directory")
-	@mkdir -p $(STAGING_DIR)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_STAGING_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 	+$($(PKG)_INSTALL_STAGING_CMDS)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_INSTALL_STAGING_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -345,8 +345,8 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_staging_installed:
 
 # Install to images dir
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_images_installed:
-	@$(call step_start,install-image)
 	@mkdir -p $(BINARIES_DIR)
+	@$(call step_start,install-image)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to images directory")
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_IMAGES_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 	+$($(PKG)_INSTALL_IMAGES_CMDS)
@@ -356,9 +356,9 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_images_installed:
 
 # Install to target dir
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_target_installed:
+	@mkdir -p $(TARGET_DIR)
 	@$(call step_start,install-target)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to target")
-	@mkdir -p $(TARGET_DIR)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_TARGET_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 	+$($(PKG)_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS)
 	$(if $(BR2_INIT_SYSTEMD),\