diff --git a/package/mutt/mutt.mk b/package/mutt/mutt.mk
index abd40e5dd6..b0bf5a7b41 100644
--- a/package/mutt/mutt.mk
+++ b/package/mutt/mutt.mk
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ MUTT_CONF_ENV += \
 MUTT_CONF_OPTS += --with-mailpath=/var/mail
 
 define MUTT_VAR_MAIL
+	mkdir -p $(TARGET_DIR)/var
 	ln -sf /tmp $(TARGET_DIR)/var/mail
 endef
 MUTT_POST_INSTALL_TARGET_HOOKS += MUTT_VAR_MAIL