diff --git a/EESSI-remove-software.sh b/EESSI-remove-software.sh
index c35c7bc469..bcb1025b64 100755
--- a/EESSI-remove-software.sh
+++ b/EESSI-remove-software.sh
@@ -134,9 +134,12 @@ if [ $EUID -eq 0 ]; then
                     # permission issues when reinstalling the application (see https://github.com/EESSI/software-layer/issues/556)
                     echo_yellow "Recreating an empty ${app_dir}..."
                     mkdir -p ${app_dir}
-                    # these subdirs don't (and shouldn't) exist, but we need to do the ls anyway as a workaround,
-                    # so redirect to /dev/null and ignore the exit code
-                    ls ${app_subdirs} >& /dev/null || true
+                    for app_subdir in ${app_subdirs}; do
+                        mkdir -p ${app_subdir}
+                    done
+                    ## these subdirs don't (and shouldn't) exist, but we need to do the ls anyway as a workaround,
+                    ## so redirect to /dev/null and ignore the exit code
+                    #ls ${app_subdirs} >& /dev/null || true
                 done
             else
                 fatal_error "Easystack file ${easystack_file} not found!"