diff --git a/landscape/lib/apt/package/facade.py b/landscape/lib/apt/package/facade.py
index e82cb4e67..38e34c2c1 100644
--- a/landscape/lib/apt/package/facade.py
+++ b/landscape/lib/apt/package/facade.py
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ def __init__(self, root=None):
     def _ensure_dir_structure(self):
         apt_dir = self._ensure_sub_dir("etc/apt")
         self._ensure_sub_dir("etc/apt/sources.list.d")
+        self._ensure_sub_dir("etc/apt/preferences.d")
         self._ensure_sub_dir("var/cache/apt/archives/partial")
         self._ensure_sub_dir("var/lib/apt/lists/partial")
         dpkg_dir = self._ensure_sub_dir("var/lib/dpkg")