diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 1050b17e873..9e3c0fff5fd 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -9561,7 +9561,10 @@ $as_echo "$ac_enable_autodepend" >&6; }
    fi
    if test $ac_enable_autodepend = yes; then
       DEPFLAGS='-MMD -MF ${DEPDIR}/$*.d'
-      MKDEPDIR='test -d ${DEPDIR} || mkdir ${DEPDIR}'
+      ## In parallel builds, another make might create depdir between
+      ## the first test and mkdir, so stick another test on the end.
+      ## Or use mkinstalldirs?  mkdir -p is not portable.
+      MKDEPDIR='test -d ${DEPDIR} || mkdir ${DEPDIR} || test -d ${DEPDIR}'
       deps_frag=autodeps.mk
    fi
 fi