diff --git a/tests/runtests.sh b/tests/runtests.sh
index a8eaa898..d6a3a1d0 100644
--- a/tests/runtests.sh
+++ b/tests/runtests.sh
@@ -96,9 +96,8 @@ test X"$toptmp" = X && fatal "empty toptmp??"
 test X"$toptmp" = X/ && fatal "toptmp == / ??"
 if test -d "$toptmp" ; then
    rm -rf $toptmp/*
-else
-    mkdir $toptmp || fatal cant create temp dir $toptmp
 fi
+mkdir -p $toptmp || fatal cant create temp dir $toptmp
 
 # Unset DISPLAY because xdg-mime may be affected by the desktop
 # environment on the X server