diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 49641376c..f4af3a972 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ DIST_NAME := $(DIST_DIR)/$(subst dirty-,,$(PACKAGE_FULL_NAME)).tar
 
 include $(ROOT_DIR)/package/$(UNAME).mk
 
-package: all_fw all_ground uavobjects_matlab | $(PACKAGE_DIR)
+package: all_fw all_ground uavobjects_matlab
 
 ##############################
 #
diff --git a/package/Darwin.mk b/package/Darwin.mk
index d08c35a9e..533e4324d 100644
--- a/package/Darwin.mk
+++ b/package/Darwin.mk
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ifndef OPENPILOT_IS_COOL
 endif
 
 .PHONY: package
-package:
+package: | $(PACKAGE_DIR)
 ifneq ($(GCS_BUILD_CONF),release)
 	# We can only package release builds
 	$(error Packaging is currently supported for release builds only)
diff --git a/package/Windows.mk b/package/Windows.mk
index 7c82797c3..1b49e19b2 100644
--- a/package/Windows.mk
+++ b/package/Windows.mk
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ NSIS_TEMPLATE := $(NSIS_WINX86)/openpilotgcs.tpl
 NSIS_HEADER   := $(OPGCSSYNTHDIR)/openpilotgcs.nsh
 
 .PHONY: package
-package:
+package: | $(PACKAGE_DIR)
 ifneq ($(GCS_BUILD_CONF),release)
 	# We can only package release builds
 	$(error Packaging is currently supported for release builds only)