diff --git a/etc/init/ypclient.conf b/etc/init/ypclient.conf
index be664f3..cfe1662 100644
--- a/etc/init/ypclient.conf
+++ b/etc/init/ypclient.conf
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ stop on stopping rpc
 console none
 
 pre-start script
+	if [ ! -d /etc/sysconfig/nis ]; then
+		mkdir /etc/sysconfig/nis
+	fi
 	if [ -f /etc/sysconfig/nis/defaultdomain ]; then
 		domainname `cat /etc/sysconfig/nis/defaultdomain`
 	else