diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index 02522878..d9e4baa1 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -91,7 +91,9 @@ install-cfg: $(cfg-prefix)/$(cfg-dir)
 				$(cfg-prefix)/$(cfg-dir)sems.conf; \
 		fi
 
-		$(INSTALL-CFG) etc/app_mapping.conf $(cfg-prefix)/$(cfg-dir)etc
+		# Make sure the destination exists and is a directory!
+		mkdir -p $(cfg-prefix)/$(cfg-dir)etc
+		$(INSTALL-CFG) etc/app_mapping.conf $(cfg-prefix)/$(cfg-dir)etc/
 
 install-bin: $(bin-prefix)/$(bin-dir)
 		$(INSTALL-TOUCH) $(bin-prefix)/$(bin-dir)$(NAME)