diff --git a/share/mk/bsd.prog.mk b/share/mk/bsd.prog.mk
index e027669c529..7f1f52ce0e1 100644
--- a/share/mk/bsd.prog.mk
+++ b/share/mk/bsd.prog.mk
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ _proginstall:
 	    ${_INSTALLFLAGS} ${PROG} ${DESTDIR}${BINDIR}/${PROGNAME}
 .if ${MK_DEBUG_FILES} != "no"
 .if defined(DEBUGMKDIR)
-	${INSTALL} -d ${DESTDIR}${DEBUGFILEDIR}
+	${INSTALL} ${TAG_ARGS:D${TAG_ARGS},debug} -d ${DESTDIR}${DEBUGFILEDIR}
 .endif
 	${INSTALL} ${TAG_ARGS:D${TAG_ARGS},debug} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m ${DEBUGMODE} \
 	    ${PROGNAME}.debug ${DESTDIR}${DEBUGFILEDIR}/${PROGNAME}.debug