diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/julia/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/julia/package.py
index 7650bfc6ca7..97a4a6774e7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/julia/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/julia/package.py
@@ -150,8 +150,10 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
         make("install")
 
         # Julia's package manager needs a certificate
+        cacert_dir = join_path(prefix, "etc", "curl")
+        mkdirp(cacert_dir)
+        cacert_file = join_path(cacert_dir, "cacert.pem")
         curl = which("curl")
-        cacert_file = join_path(prefix, "etc", "curl", "cacert.pem")
         curl("--create-dirs",
              "--output", cacert_file,
              "https://curl.haxx.se/ca/cacert.pem")