diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index c9c0d74858..6b3a3f73d9 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ $(foreach dir,$(call qstrip,$(BR2_GLOBAL_PATCH_DIR)),\
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_configured:
 	@$(call step_start,configure)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Configuring")
+	$(Q)mkdir -p $(HOST_DIR) $(TARGET_DIR) $(STAGING_DIR) $(BINARIES_DIR)
 	$(call prepare-per-package-directory,$($(PKG)_FINAL_DEPENDENCIES))
 	$(call fixup-libtool-files,$(NAME),$(STAGING_DIR))
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_CONFIGURE_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -271,7 +272,6 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_built::
 
 # Install to host dir
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_host_installed:
-	@mkdir -p $(HOST_DIR)
 	@$(call step_start,install-host)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to host directory")
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -301,7 +301,6 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_host_installed:
 # empty when we use an internal toolchain.
 #
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_staging_installed:
-	@mkdir -p $(STAGING_DIR)
 	@$(call step_start,install-staging)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to staging directory")
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_STAGING_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -344,7 +343,6 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_staging_installed:
 
 # Install to images dir
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_images_installed:
-	@mkdir -p $(BINARIES_DIR)
 	@$(call step_start,install-image)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to images directory")
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_IMAGES_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -355,7 +353,6 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_images_installed:
 
 # Install to target dir
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_target_installed:
-	@mkdir -p $(TARGET_DIR)
 	@$(call step_start,install-target)
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Installing to target")
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_INSTALL_TARGET_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
diff --git a/package/pkg-utils.mk b/package/pkg-utils.mk
index d88a14ab0f..b17b5465af 100644
--- a/package/pkg-utils.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-utils.mk
@@ -163,7 +163,6 @@ ifeq ($(BR2_PER_PACKAGE_DIRECTORIES),y)
 # $2: 'host' or 'target'
 # $3: destination directory
 define per-package-rsync
-	mkdir -p $(3)
 	$(foreach pkg,$(1),\
 		rsync -a --link-dest=$(PER_PACKAGE_DIR)/$(pkg)/$(2)/ \
 		$(PER_PACKAGE_DIR)/$(pkg)/$(2)/ \