diff --git a/build/SConstruct b/build/SConstruct
index d1fa5320c4..e7ec87a53a 100644
--- a/build/SConstruct
+++ b/build/SConstruct
@@ -328,6 +328,12 @@ for build_dir in build_dirs:
     current_options_file = os.path.join('build_options', 'current', build_dir)
     if os.path.isfile(current_options_file):
         sticky_opts.files.append(current_options_file)
+    else:
+        # if file doesn't exist, make sure at least the directory is there
+        # so we can create it later
+        opt_dir = os.path.dirname(current_options_file)
+        if not os.path.isdir(opt_dir):
+            os.mkdir(opt_dir)
     if not sticky_opts.files:
         print "%s: No options file found in build_options, using defaults." \
               % build_dir