diff --git a/project/pycgen.mk b/project/pycgen.mk
index c54d4f1..f8d6a5d 100644
--- a/project/pycgen.mk
+++ b/project/pycgen.mk
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ PYCGEN_CFGDAT = $(PYCOMPILE_DIR)/$(PYDIST_PYCDIR)/./_sysconfigdata.py
 PYCGEN_PYSRCS = $(PYDIST_SRCS:$(PYDIST_PYCDIR)/./%.py=$(PYCGEN_PYCDIR)/%.py)
 PYCGEN_PYENCS = $(PYDIST_ENCODINGS_SRCS:$(PYDIST_ENCDIR)/%.py=$(PYCGEN_ENCDIR)/%.py)
 
-$(PYDIST_PYCDIR)/./_sysconfigdata.py: tree.tag
+$(PYDIST_PYCDIR)/./_sysconfigdata.py:
+		mkdir -p $(PYDIST_PYCDIR)
 		printf 'build_time_vars = {}\n' > $@
 
 $(PYCGEN_CFGDAT): $(PYCOMPILE_DIR)/tree.tag