diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 32f182a00d40dc4eaa2c042a2927085bcbdea783..a3df6974117a480ad93c44d596ef6426d589bc88 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ cache:
     - ".gradle/caches"
 
 before_script:
+  - "mkdir .gradle"
   - "export GRADLE_USER_HOME=$(pwd)/.gradle"
   - "echo $SIGNING_properties | base64 -d > .gradle/gradle.properties"
   - "echo $SIGNING_secretKey | base64 -d > .gradle/sonatype_upload.gpg"