diff --git a/contrib/subtree/Makefile b/contrib/subtree/Makefile
index b50750565f..435b2dea29 100644
--- a/contrib/subtree/Makefile
+++ b/contrib/subtree/Makefile
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ $(GIT_SUBTREE): $(GIT_SUBTREE_SH)
 doc: $(GIT_SUBTREE_DOC)
 
 install: $(GIT_SUBTREE)
+	$(INSTALL) -d -m 755 $(DESTDIR)$(libexecdir)
 	$(INSTALL) -m 755 $(GIT_SUBTREE) $(DESTDIR)$(libexecdir)
 
 install-doc: install-man