diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index ea8e70eb..fa3b077f 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ no_undefined = -no-undefined
 export_symbols = -export-symbols $(srcdir)/gpgme.def
 
 install-def-file:
+	-$(INSTALL) -d $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)
 	$(INSTALL) $(srcdir)/gpgme.def $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/gpgme.def
 
 uninstall-def-file: