diff --git a/plays/lib/volumes.yml b/plays/lib/volumes.yml
index ee00483..1a71dd7 100644
--- a/plays/lib/volumes.yml
+++ b/plays/lib/volumes.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,17 @@
 ---
+- name: Create volume mount directories
+  become: true
+  file:
+    path: "{{ item }}"
+    state: directory
+    owner: dokku
+    group: dokku
+  with_items: "{{ mounts }}"
+  when: mounts is defined
+
 - name: Attach volume mounts
   dokku_storage:
     app: "{{ app }}"
     mounts: "{{ item }}"
-  with_items: "{{ lookup('vars', 'mounts', default=[]) }}"
+  with_items: "{{ mounts }}"
+  when: mounts is defined