diff --git a/units/meson-add-wants.sh b/units/meson-add-wants.sh
index 70f7172ae9..e2b260398c 100755
--- a/units/meson-add-wants.sh
+++ b/units/meson-add-wants.sh
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ unitpath="${DESTDIR:-}${unitdir}/${unit}"
 
 case "$target" in
         */)
-                mkdir -p -m 0755 "$dir"
+                mkdir -vp -m 0755 "$dir"
                 ;;
         *)
-                mkdir -p -m 0755 "$(basename "$dir")"
+                mkdir -vp -m 0755 "$(dirname "$dir")"
                 ;;
 esac