diff --git a/script/trees b/script/trees
index faaddc5f..e413f610 100755
--- a/script/trees
+++ b/script/trees
@@ -68,8 +68,6 @@ build_projects()
 	[ "$mode" = "distclean" ] && mode="clean"
 	run_make_command || return 0
 
-	[ -f "$listfile" ] || return 0
-	[ -n "$mode" ] || x_ mkdir -p "$elfdir"
 	[ -n "$mode" ] || copy_elf; return 0
 }
 
@@ -87,7 +85,6 @@ build_targets()
 	targets="$(items "$cfgsdir")" || $err "Can't get options for $cfgsdir"
 	[ $# -gt 0 ] && targets=$@
 
-	[ -z "$mode" ] && x_ mkdir -p "$elfdir"
 	handle_targets
 }
 
@@ -292,6 +289,8 @@ copy_elf()
 	[ -n "$listfile" ] || return 0
 	[ -f "$listfile" ] || return 0
 
+	x_ mkdir -p "$dest_dir"
+
 	while read -r f; do
 		[ -f "$cdir/$f" ] && x_ cp "$cdir/$f" "$dest_dir"
 	done < "$listfile"