diff --git a/makerules/submake.mk b/makerules/submake.mk
index ec07adc60..0fc32ec3d 100644
--- a/makerules/submake.mk
+++ b/makerules/submake.mk
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 all clean: $(SUBDIRS)
 
 $(SUBDIRS):
-	$(MKDIR_P) $(builddir)/$@
+	-$(MKDIR_P) $(builddir)/$@
 	$(MAKE) -f $(srcdir)/$@/Makefile.raw -C $(builddir)/$@ $(MAKECMDGOALS)
 
 clean: $(SUBDIRS)