diff --git a/package-repo.sh b/package-repo.sh
index 8691ca8..3b1224a 100755
--- a/package-repo.sh
+++ b/package-repo.sh
@@ -5,8 +5,11 @@
 
 # Package repository using supplied inst.lua (use inst-gold.lua for repository branch)
 
-stat repobuild/data/app-claw && rm -rf repobuild
-mkdir repobuild
+# this is a guard check to avoid removing repobuild if it's blatantly
+#  not the actual repobuild directory (this is an rm -rf after all)
+stat repobuild/data/app-claw 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null && rm -rf repobuild
+
+mkdir -p repobuild
 cp -r code/* repobuild/
 cp -r repository/* repobuild/
 cp $1 repobuild/
diff --git a/package.sh b/package.sh
index fad2903..fb89c28 100755
--- a/package.sh
+++ b/package.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 # No warranty is provided, implied or otherwise.
 
 rm code/data/app-claw/*
+mkdir -p code/data/app-claw
 lua claw/clawconv.lua code/data/app-claw/ < claw/code-claw.lua > /dev/null
 rm code.tar
 # Hey, look behind you, there's nothing to see here.