diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 644f3556..68035e46 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -625,6 +625,7 @@ unit/tls-settings.8021x: unit/cert-ca.pem unit/cert-client.pem unit/cert-client-
 BUILT_SOURCES = $(ell_built_sources) src/builtin.h
 
 ell/shared: Makefile
+	$(AM_V_at)$(MKDIR_P) ell
 	$(AM_V_GEN)for f in $(ell_shared) ; do \
 		if [ ! -f $$f ] ; then \
 			$(LN_S) -t ell -f $(abs_srcdir)/../ell/$$f ; \