diff --git a/setup-prod.bash b/setup-prod.bash
index e83ccc7..7abbe65 100755
--- a/setup-prod.bash
+++ b/setup-prod.bash
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ function create_user {
     [[ -d /opt/$PROJECT_NAME ]] &&
       echo -e "ERROR\n special opt folder not empty: /opt/$PROJECT_NAME\nplease specify unique project name with argument --project|-p" &&
       exit 20
+    sudo -u yamal -- mkdir -p $YAMAL_DIR/projects
     useradd -G ssh,yamal -rm --home-dir $YAMAL_DIR/projects/$PROJECT_NAME --shell /bin/bash $PROJECT_NAME
     echo "user $PROJECT_NAME successfully created!"
   fi