diff --git a/tests/scripts/test085-homedir b/tests/scripts/test085-homedir
index 5c9ce2466f..3b98ca5ee5 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/test085-homedir
+++ b/tests/scripts/test085-homedir
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ mkdir -p $TESTDIR $DBDIR1 $TESTDIR/home $TESTDIR/archive
 
 # copy skel dir so we can create symlinks in it
 cp -r $DATADIR/homedir/skel $TESTDIR
-(cd $TESTDIR/skel; ln -s directory symlink; cd directory; ln -s ../target "broken link")
+(cd $TESTDIR/skel; mkdir directory; ln -s directory symlink; cd directory; ln -s ../target "broken link")
 
 $SLAPPASSWD -g -n >$CONFIGPWF
 echo "rootpw `$SLAPPASSWD -T $CONFIGPWF`" >$TESTDIR/configpw.conf