diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index e8c01a399f..c3f79193a0 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ init-state:
 	$(INSTALL) $(INIT_FLAGS) $(GROUP_WRITABLE) -d $(DESTDIR)$(localstatedir)/nix/gcroots/channels
 	ln -sfn $(localstatedir)/nix/profiles $(DESTDIR)$(localstatedir)/nix/gcroots/profiles
 	$(INSTALL) $(INIT_FLAGS) -d $(DESTDIR)$(localstatedir)/nix/userpool
-	$(INSTALL) $(INIT_FLAGS) -m 1777 -d $(DESTDIR)$(storedir)
+	-$(INSTALL) $(INIT_FLAGS) -m 1777 -d $(DESTDIR)$(storedir)
 	$(INSTALL) $(INIT_FLAGS) $(GROUP_WRITABLE) -d $(DESTDIR)$(localstatedir)/nix/manifests
 	ln -sfn $(localstatedir)/nix/manifests $(DESTDIR)$(localstatedir)/nix/gcroots/manifests