diff --git a/src/utils/BamTools/Makefile b/src/utils/BamTools/Makefile
index 2e01ce06834256f255584840ed280d002afc91f6..aac8c3e360ff881caf9fb255576e079f0eaeea5e 100644
--- a/src/utils/BamTools/Makefile
+++ b/src/utils/BamTools/Makefile
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ all: $(LIBRARY)
 
 .PHONY: all
 
+[ -d lib ] || mkdir -p lib
+
 $(LIBRARY): $(OBJECTS)
 	@echo "  * linking $(LIBRARY)"
 	ar cr lib/$@  $^