diff --git a/roles/nut/tasks/main.yml b/roles/nut/tasks/main.yml
index 3d7df3f..c3f1cc1 100644
--- a/roles/nut/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/nut/tasks/main.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,15 @@
   tags:
   - install
 
+- name: ensure ups configuration directory exists
+  file:
+    path: '{{ path_prefix }}/etc/ups'
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: u=rwx,go=rx
+    state: directory
+  tags:
+  - nut-config
 - name: ensure upsd is configured
   template:
     src: upsd.conf.j2