diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1a62e48759..282a5da713 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -3863,10 +3863,8 @@ $(FUZZ_PROGRAMS): all
 
 fuzz-all: $(FUZZ_PROGRAMS)
 
-$(UNIT_TEST_BIN):
-	@mkdir -p $(UNIT_TEST_BIN)
-
-$(UNIT_TEST_PROGS): $(UNIT_TEST_BIN)/%$X: $(UNIT_TEST_DIR)/%.o $(UNIT_TEST_DIR)/test-lib.o $(GITLIBS) GIT-LDFLAGS $(UNIT_TEST_BIN)
+$(UNIT_TEST_PROGS): $(UNIT_TEST_BIN)/%$X: $(UNIT_TEST_DIR)/%.o $(UNIT_TEST_DIR)/test-lib.o $(GITLIBS) GIT-LDFLAGS
+	$(call mkdir_p_parent_template)
 	$(QUIET_LINK)$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) -o $@ $(ALL_LDFLAGS) \
 		$(filter %.o,$^) $(filter %.a,$^) $(LIBS)