# Invoke a second make in the output directory, passing relevant variables
# check that the output directory actually exists
saved-output := $(KBUILD_OUTPUT)
-KBUILD_OUTPUT := $(shell cd $(KBUILD_OUTPUT) && /bin/pwd)
+KBUILD_OUTPUT := $(shell mkdir -p $(KBUILD_OUTPUT) && cd $(KBUILD_OUTPUT) \
+ && /bin/pwd)
$(if $(KBUILD_OUTPUT),, \
- $(error output directory "$(saved-output)" does not exist))
+ $(error failed to create output directory "$(saved-output)"))
PHONY += $(MAKECMDGOALS) sub-make