diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 2ac28b2..e7bcd23 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -589,6 +589,7 @@ src/builtin.h: src/genbuiltin $(builtin_sources)
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(srcdir)/src/genbuiltin $(builtin_modules) > $@
 
 tools/%.rules:
+	$(AM_V_at)$(MKDIR_P) tools
 	$(AM_V_GEN)cp $(srcdir)/$(subst 97-,,$@) $@
 
 $(lib_libbluetooth_la_OBJECTS): $(local_headers)