diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3ffb20f..0cf06de 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 import setuptools.command.sdist
 import setuptools.command.install
 
+import pathlib
+
 from distutils.extension import Extension
 
 # This code replaces ...
@@ -61,6 +63,9 @@ def file_as_blockiter(afile, blocksize=65536):
     current_html_hash = 'doit'
     current_rst_hash = 'doit'
 
+    # ensure that 'readme' directory exists
+    pathlib.Path('readme/').mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+
     try:
         with open('readme/README.hash', 'r') as f:
             lines = f.readlines()
diff --git a/theonionbox/stamp.py b/theonionbox/stamp.py
index 8249c95..2c0dc1f 100644
--- a/theonionbox/stamp.py
+++ b/theonionbox/stamp.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 __title__ = 'The Onion Box'
 __description__ = 'Dashboard to monitor Tor node operations.'
 __version__ = '20.2rc1'
-__stamp__ = '20200118|222159'
+__stamp__ = '20200119|095654'
\ No newline at end of file