diff --git a/exercises/204_established_identities/scripts/pull_only_from_ryzdesk.sh b/exercises/204_established_identities/scripts/pull_only_from_ryzdesk.sh
index 18ce4ae..5f7fdf8 100755
--- a/exercises/204_established_identities/scripts/pull_only_from_ryzdesk.sh
+++ b/exercises/204_established_identities/scripts/pull_only_from_ryzdesk.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,15 @@ EXERCISE="/usr/local/src/microreticulum/microReticulumTbeam/exercises/204_establ
 for env in amy bob cy dan ed flo guy
 do
     ENV="$(echo "$env" | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')"
+    local_build_dir="${EXERCISE}/.pio/build/${env}"
 
+    if [ ! -d "$local_build_dir" ]; then
+        echo "Creating missing local build directory: $local_build_dir"
+        mkdir -p "$local_build_dir" || {
+            echo "ERROR: failed to create $local_build_dir" >&2
+            exit 1
+        }
+    fi
     echo "===== copy artifact $env from ryzdesk ====="
     rsync -a \
       "ryzdesk:${EXERCISE}/.pio/build/${env}/" \