diff --git a/contrib/subtree/Makefile b/contrib/subtree/Makefile
index 36ae3e4f0a..b50750565f 100644
--- a/contrib/subtree/Makefile
+++ b/contrib/subtree/Makefile
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ install: $(GIT_SUBTREE)
 install-doc: install-man
 
 install-man: $(GIT_SUBTREE_DOC)
+	$(INSTALL) -d -m 755 $(DESTDIR)$(man1dir)
 	$(INSTALL) -m 644 $^ $(DESTDIR)$(man1dir)
 
 $(GIT_SUBTREE_DOC): $(GIT_SUBTREE_XML)