diff --git a/src/cargo/core/compiler/layout.rs b/src/cargo/core/compiler/layout.rs
index 3708c5eb473..3448bd4ed01 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/compiler/layout.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/compiler/layout.rs
@@ -314,9 +314,9 @@ impl BuildDirLayout {
         if !self.is_new_layout {
             paths::create_dir_all(&self.deps)?;
             paths::create_dir_all(&self.fingerprint)?;
+            paths::create_dir_all(&self.examples)?;
         }
         paths::create_dir_all(&self.incremental)?;
-        paths::create_dir_all(&self.examples)?;
         paths::create_dir_all(&self.build)?;
 
         Ok(())
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/build_dir.rs b/tests/testsuite/build_dir.rs
index 26441668200..7cd385e0bb2 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/build_dir.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/build_dir.rs
@@ -412,6 +412,8 @@ fn examples_should_output_to_build_dir_and_uplift_to_target_dir() {
 
 "#]]);
 
+    assert!(!p.root().join("build-dir/debug/examples").exists());
+
     p.root()
         .join("target-dir")
         .assert_build_dir_layout(str![[r#"