diff --git a/EESSI-install-software.sh b/EESSI-install-software.sh
index f996fd626d..6c680571e2 100755
--- a/EESSI-install-software.sh
+++ b/EESSI-install-software.sh
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ if [ -z $EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE ]; then
   echo ">> Determined \$EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE via 'eessi_software_subdir.py $DETECTION_PARAMETERS' script"
 else
   echo ">> Picking up pre-defined \$EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE: ${EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE}"
+  # make sure directory exists (since it's expected by init/eessi_environment_variables when using archdetect)
+  mkdir -p ${EESSI_PREFIX}/software/${EESSI_OS_TYPE}/${EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE}
 fi
 
 # Set all the EESSI environment variables (respecting $EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE)