diff --git a/recipe/deploy/writable.php b/recipe/deploy/writable.php
index 175788531..45cc7e712 100644
--- a/recipe/deploy/writable.php
+++ b/recipe/deploy/writable.php
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
         return;
     }
 
+    //verify that directories exist
+    run("mkdir -vp $dirs");
+
     if ($httpUser === false && $mode !== 'chmod') {
         // Detect http user in process list.
         $httpUser = run("ps axo user,comm | grep -E '[a]pache|[h]ttpd|[_]www|[w]ww-data|[n]ginx' | grep -v root | head -1 | cut -d\\  -f1")->toString();