diff --git a/src/dfx/src/lib/builders/motoko.rs b/src/dfx/src/lib/builders/motoko.rs
index 0869819747..89b30bc47d 100644
--- a/src/dfx/src/lib/builders/motoko.rs
+++ b/src/dfx/src/lib/builders/motoko.rs
@@ -165,6 +165,13 @@ impl MotokoBuilder {
             }
         };
 
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(motoko_info.get_output_root()).with_context(|| {
+            format!(
+                "Failed to create {}.",
+                motoko_info.get_output_root().to_string_lossy()
+            )
+        })?;
+
         let idl_dir_path = &config.idl_root;
         std::fs::create_dir_all(idl_dir_path)
             .with_context(|| format!("Failed to create {}.", idl_dir_path.to_string_lossy()))?;
@@ -321,14 +328,7 @@ impl CanisterBuilder for MotokoBuilder {
             .map(|c| (c.canister_id().to_text(), c.get_name().to_string()))
             .collect();
 
-        std::fs::create_dir_all(motoko_info.get_output_root()).with_context(|| {
-            format!(
-                "Failed to create {}.",
-                motoko_info.get_output_root().to_string_lossy()
-            )
-        })?;
         let cache = &self.cache;
-
         get_imports(cache.as_ref(), &motoko_info, &mut *pool.imports.borrow_mut(), pool)?;
 
         self.do_build(