diff --git a/pkg/build/build.go b/pkg/build/build.go
index aefce564..c81fd48f 100644
--- a/pkg/build/build.go
+++ b/pkg/build/build.go
@@ -860,6 +860,10 @@ func (b *Build) BuildPackage(ctx context.Context) error {
 	// run any pipelines for subpackages
 	for _, sp := range b.Configuration.Subpackages {
 		sp := sp
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b.WorkspaceDir, melangeOutputDirName, sp.Name), 0o755); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		if !b.isBuildLess() {
 			log.Infof("running pipeline for subpackage %s", sp.Name)
 
@@ -870,10 +874,6 @@ func (b *Build) BuildPackage(ctx context.Context) error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b.WorkspaceDir, melangeOutputDirName, sp.Name), 0o755); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
 		// add the main package to the linter queue
 		lintTarget := linterTarget{
 			pkgName:  sp.Name,