diff --git a/tools/test/start-module.test.mjs b/tools/test/start-module.test.mjs
index 381ae8a..39509e2 100644
--- a/tools/test/start-module.test.mjs
+++ b/tools/test/start-module.test.mjs
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ test("start_module_accepts_when_previous_present", () => {
 
 test("start_module_refuses_skipping", () => {
   const ws = copyFixture("ws-start");
+  mkdirSync(join(ws, "tests"), { recursive: true });
   writeFileSync(join(ws, "tests/m01.rs"), "");
   const r = run("start-module.mjs", ["03", ws], env);
   assert.equal(r.code, 1);