diff --git a/install/linux/build-rpm.py b/install/linux/build-rpm.py
index 1421ec1..d9b20be 100755
--- a/install/linux/build-rpm.py
+++ b/install/linux/build-rpm.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ def build(qubes=False):
         dist_path.mkdir()
 
     print(f"* Creating RPM project structure under {build_dir}")
+    build_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
     for d in ["BUILD", "BUILDROOT", "RPMS", "SOURCES", "SPECS"]:
         subdir = build_dir / d
         subdir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
diff --git a/install/linux/rpm-build/.gitignore b/install/linux/rpm-build/.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index d6b7ef3..0000000
--- a/install/linux/rpm-build/.gitignore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-*
-!.gitignore