diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
index 3fa2715..a96ee89 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upload files via SFTP
         run: |
           # avoid "host key verification failed" error by adding the host to known_hosts
+          mkdir -p ~/.ssh
           echo "${{ secrets.SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS }}" > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
           echo "${{ secrets.SSH_PRIVATE_KEY }}" > sftp_private_key.pem
           sftp -i sftp_private_key.pem -P ${{ secrets.SFTP_PORT }} -r ${{ secrets.SFTP_USERNAME }}@${{ secrets.SFTP_SERVER }}:/apps.flipdot.org/ ./dist
\ No newline at end of file