diff --git a/scripts/deploy.sh b/scripts/deploy.sh
index b2b705f..1781e8b 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 
 HOST="chris@nose-pluto.local"
 DEST="~/pluto"
+NOSE_DIR="~/nose"
 SOCK="$HOME/.ssh/cm-%r@%h:%p"
 
 # 1) Open a master connection (prompts once)
@@ -20,8 +21,11 @@ rsync -az --delete \
   --exclude '.git/' \
   ./ "$HOST:$DEST/"
 
-# 3) remote install (reuses the connection)
+# 3) ensure $NOSE_DIR exists
+ssh -o ControlPath="$SOCK" "$HOST" "mkdir -p $NOSE_DIR/{www,bin}"
+
+# 4) remote deploy (reuses the connection)
 ssh -o ControlPath="$SOCK" "$HOST" "cd $DEST && bun install --frozen-lockfile && sudo systemctl restart nose-pluto.service"
 
-# 4) close the master connection
+# 5) close the master connection
 ssh -O exit -o ControlPath="$SOCK" "$HOST"