diff --git a/recipes/cffi/__init__.py b/recipes/cffi/__init__.py
index 536c1a7..ce5548d 100644
--- a/recipes/cffi/__init__.py
+++ b/recipes/cffi/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from os.path import join
 from toolchain import CythonRecipe
 
 
diff --git a/recipes/pycparser/__init__.py b/recipes/pycparser/__init__.py
index a155693..947065d 100644
--- a/recipes/pycparser/__init__.py
+++ b/recipes/pycparser/__init__.py
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ class PycparserRecipe(PythonRecipe):
         arch = list(self.filtered_archs)[0]
         build_dir = self.get_build_dir(arch.arch)
         os.chdir(build_dir)
+        # manually create expected directory in build directory
+        scripts_dir = join("build", "scripts-2.7")
+        if not os.path.exists(scripts_dir):
+            os.makedirs(scripts_dir)
         hostpython = sh.Command(self.ctx.hostpython)
         build_env = arch.get_env()
         dest_dir = join(self.ctx.dist_dir, "root", "python")