diff --git a/debian/rules.real b/debian/rules.real
index ed50d86c3..af1766c4d 100644
--- a/debian/rules.real
+++ b/debian/rules.real
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ export DEB_HOST_ARCH DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE DEB_BUILD_ARCH
 
 include debian/rules.defs
 
+stamp = [ -d $(dir $@) ] || mkdir $(dir $@); touch $@
+
 ifdef DEBIAN_KERNEL_JOBS
   JOBS_ARG = -j$(DEBIAN_KERNEL_JOBS)
 endif
@@ -74,10 +76,10 @@ $(STAMPS_DIR)/source: SOURCE_FILES = $(filter-out debian, $(wildcard * .[^.]*))
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/source: DIR = $(BUILD_DIR)/source
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/source:
 	rm -rf '$(DIR)'
-	mkdir -p '$(DIR)' $(STAMPS_DIR)
+	mkdir -p '$(DIR)'
 	cp -al $(SOURCE_FILES) '$(DIR)'
 	$(patch_cmd)
-	touch '$@'
+	@$(stamp)
 
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/source_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET): SOURCE_DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/source
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/source_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET): DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/source_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@ $(STAMPS_DIR)/source_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET): $(STAMPS_DIR)/source
 	rm -rf '$(DIR)'
 	cp -al '$(SOURCE_DIR)' '$(DIR)'
 	$(patch_cmd) -a $(ARCH) -f $(FEATURESET)
-	touch '$@'
+	@$(stamp)
 
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/setup_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR): CONFIG=$(BUILD_DIR)/config.$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/setup_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR): SOURCE_DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/source_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)
@@ -111,7 +113,7 @@ ifdef CFLAGS
 endif
 	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C '$(SOURCE_DIR)' O='$(CURDIR)/$(DIR)' reportoldconfig
 	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C '$(SOURCE_DIR)' O='$(CURDIR)/$(DIR)' $(JOBS_ARG) prepare
-	touch '$@'
+	@$(stamp)
 
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)_$(TYPE): DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)_$(TYPE): $(STAMPS_DIR)/setup_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)
@@ -123,7 +125,7 @@ $(STAMPS_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)_plain-s390-tape \
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)_plain-xen:
 	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C '$(DIR)' $(JOBS_ARG) $(BUILD_TARGET)
 	python debian/bin/buildcheck.py $(DIR) $(ARCH) $(FEATURESET) $(FLAVOUR)
-	touch '$@'
+	@$(stamp)
 
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/build-doc: SOURCE_DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/source
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/build-doc: DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/build-doc
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ $(STAMPS_DIR)/build-doc: $(STAMPS_DIR)/source
 	mkdir $(DIR)
 	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C $(SOURCE_DIR) O='$(CURDIR)/$(DIR)' $(JOBS_ARG) xmldocs
 	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C $(SOURCE_DIR) O='$(CURDIR)/$(DIR)' $(JOBS_ARG) htmldocs mandocs
-	touch '$@'
+	@$(stamp)
 
 install-base:
 	dh_installchangelogs