diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f5d33aabe..594b62dfd 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ embedded-cluster:
 
 .PHONY: unit-tests
 unit-tests:
+	mkdir -p pkg/goods/bins pkg/goods/internal/bins
+	touch pkg/goods/bins/BUILD pkg/goods/internal/bins/BUILD # compilation will fail if no files are present
 	go test -v ./pkg/... ./cmd/...
 
 .PHONY: vet