diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 591a61d7d9106000102140d401c00dad47c4623f..42bcc7cc7a7a7d440751bdbb0e707acaf193ce3e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ windows:
     - 'dir Env:'
     # make the CMake build directory
     - echo "----------------------------------------"
-    - mkdir -Force "$BUILD_DIR"
+    - if(!(Test-Path -path $BUILD_DIR)) { mkdir -Force $BUILD_DIR }
     - cd "$BUILD_DIR"
     - pwd
     - echo "#--- CONFIGURE ---"