diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 864fa772bb..7f6100cf31 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -311,6 +311,7 @@ define LINUX_KCONFIG_FIXUP_CMDS
 	# replaced later by the real cpio archive, and the kernel will be
 	# rebuilt using the linux-rebuild-with-initramfs target.
 	$(if $(BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS),
+		mkdir -p $(BINARIES_DIR)
 		touch $(BINARIES_DIR)/rootfs.cpio
 		$(call KCONFIG_SET_OPT,CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE,"$${BR_BINARIES_DIR}/rootfs.cpio",$(@D)/.config)
 		$(call KCONFIG_SET_OPT,CONFIG_INITRAMFS_ROOT_UID,0,$(@D)/.config)