diff --git a/app/ghcup/Main.hs b/app/ghcup/Main.hs
index 3771799..4483bf3 100644
--- a/app/ghcup/Main.hs
+++ b/app/ghcup/Main.hs
@@ -588,6 +588,10 @@ main = do
                       , DownloadFailed
                       ]
 
+          -- create ~/.ghcup dir
+          ghcdir <- ghcupBaseDir
+          createDirIfMissing newDirPerms ghcdir
+
           dls <-
             ( runLogger
               . flip runReaderT settings