diff --git a/tools/pip.sh b/tools/pip.sh
index 489bdf9107..a8474d77e1 100755
--- a/tools/pip.sh
+++ b/tools/pip.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ then
 fi
 if [[ ! -f zuul/web/static/status.html ]]
 then
-    mkdir -p zuul/web/static
     pushd web/
         yarn install
         yarn build
diff --git a/zuul/_setup_hook.py b/zuul/_setup_hook.py
index 945b9141d4..d88815c36f 100644
--- a/zuul/_setup_hook.py
+++ b/zuul/_setup_hook.py
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ def _build_javascript():
         if r:
             raise RuntimeError("Yarn install failed")
     if not os.path.exists('zuul/web/static/index.html'):
-        os.makedirs('zuul/web/static', exist_ok=True)
         r = subprocess.Popen(['yarn', 'build'], cwd="web/").wait()
         if r:
             raise RuntimeError("Yarn build failed")
diff --git a/zuul/web/static/.keep b/zuul/web/static/.keep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2