diff --git a/pmd-jedit/etc/build.xml b/pmd-jedit/etc/build.xml
index b3ef0677c3..ef77dcf394 100644
--- a/pmd-jedit/etc/build.xml
+++ b/pmd-jedit/etc/build.xml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
     </target>
 
 	<target name="compile">
+		<mkdir dir="${build}"/>
 		<javac
 			srcdir="${src}"
 			destdir="${build}"