diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5f2e12dd..87a55fdb 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -37,10 +37,12 @@ api: $(SHLIB)
 ## custom FLAGS to work at build-time.
 
 deps:
+	@test -d obj || mkdir obj
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $(NEEDED_CXXFLAGS) -MM *.cpp > $(DEPS)
 	@sed -i -e '/\.o:/ s/^/obj\//' $(DEPS)
 
 obj/%.o : %.cpp
+	@test -d obj || mkdir obj
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $(NEEDED_CXXFLAGS) $(INCFLAGS) $(CPU_FLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
 # '-' is 'ignore if missing' on first run