diff --git a/functions b/functions
index 2ea9933..276844d 100755
--- a/functions
+++ b/functions
@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@ dokku-ansible-deploy-validate-dependencies() {
   fi
 }
 
+dokku-ansible-deploy-deploy-d-create() {
+  # shellcheck disable=SC2034
+  declare desc="create a system level deploy.d directory"
+
+  if [[ ! -d "$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/deploy.d" ]]; then
+    dokku_col_log_info1_quiet "Creating $DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/deploy.d"
+    mkdir -p "$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/deploy.d"
+  fi
+}
+
 dokku-ansible-deploy-vault-pass-cmd() {
   # shellcheck disable=SC2034
   declare desc="add new app vault password for decryption of passwords"
@@ -62,6 +72,8 @@ dokku-ansible-deploy-sudo-pass-cmd() {
   # shellcheck disable=SC2034
   declare desc="add new dokku user sudo password for sudo escalation"
 
+  dokku-ansible-deploy-deploy-d-create
+
   declare VARS_FILE="$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/deploy.d/vars.yml"
 
   # shellcheck disable=SC2162 disable=SC2116 disable=SC2006