diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 725a997..836331d 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #! /bin/bash
 set -eou pipefail
-cat $(pwd)/pubkeys/* > $HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys
 mkdir -p $HOME/.ssh
+cat $(pwd)/pubkeys/* > $HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys
 for link in bashrc gitconfig screenrc Xresources Xdefaults Xmodmap  aliases vim vimrc hushlogin ;do
 	#remove real files if present, making room for links
 	if [ -f $HOME/.$link ]; then