diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 1b8ed92237..6200610499 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ install-aliases-hook:
 		dir= && $(install-aliases)
 
 define install-aliases
-	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$$dir && \
 	while [ -n "$$1" ]; do \
+		$(MKDIR_P) `dirname $(DESTDIR)$$dir/$$2` && \
 		rm -f $(DESTDIR)$$dir/$$2 && \
 		$(LN_S) $$1 $(DESTDIR)$$dir/$$2 && \
 		shift 2 || exit $$?; \