diff --git a/test/test_base.py b/test/test_base.py
index 1e70a3e4..a9e6f706 100644
--- a/test/test_base.py
+++ b/test/test_base.py
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ def make_fake_aptroot(self, template=None, fake_pkgs=[]):
         self.addCleanup(shutil.rmtree, tmpdir)
         aptroot = os.path.join(tmpdir, "aptroot")
         shutil.copytree(template, aptroot)
+        # apt warns if this dir does not exist
+        os.makedirs(os.path.join(aptroot, "etc/apt/preferences.d"))
         # fake dpkg status
         mock_dpkg_status = os.path.join(aptroot, "var/lib/dpkg/status")
         with open(mock_dpkg_status, "a") as fp: