diff --git a/tools/gpgconf.c b/tools/gpgconf.c
index 0b7348d1d..a5b84402b 100644
--- a/tools/gpgconf.c
+++ b/tools/gpgconf.c
@@ -805,12 +805,16 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	  es_putc ('\n', es_stderr);
 	  gpgconf_failure (GPG_ERR_USER_2);
 	}
+      if (!opt.dry_run)
+        gnupg_maybe_make_homedir (default_homedir (), opt.quiet);
       gc_component_retrieve_options (-1);
       if (gc_process_gpgconf_conf (NULL, 1, 1, NULL))
         gpgconf_failure (0);
       break;
 
     case aApplyProfile:
+      if (!opt.dry_run)
+        gnupg_maybe_make_homedir (default_homedir (), opt.quiet);
       gc_component_retrieve_options (-1);
       if (gc_apply_profile (fname))
         gpgconf_failure (0);