diff --git a/debian/install-openssl.sh b/debian/install-openssl.sh
index fcaa3830..0963bdb5 100755
--- a/debian/install-openssl.sh
+++ b/debian/install-openssl.sh
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ main() {
         openssl_install
     fi
 
-    if [ -n "$output_dir" ]; then
+    if [ -n "$output_dir" ] && [ "$output_dir" != ".." ]; then
         if [ ! -d "$output_dir" ]; then
             printf "Creating output directory: $output_dir\n"
             mkdir -p "$output_dir"
diff --git a/debian/install-wolfprov.sh b/debian/install-wolfprov.sh
index 99eef274..62ef9380 100755
--- a/debian/install-wolfprov.sh
+++ b/debian/install-wolfprov.sh
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ main() {
         wolfprov_install
     fi
 
-    if [ -n "$output_dir" ]; then
+    if [ -n "$output_dir" ] && [ "$output_dir" != ".." ]; then
         if [ ! -d "$output_dir" ]; then
             printf "Creating output directory: $output_dir\n"
             mkdir -p "$output_dir"