diff --git a/meta/classes/package.bbclass b/meta/classes/package.bbclass
index 993ce98..8a94e30 100644
--- a/meta/classes/package.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/package.bbclass
@@ -116,6 +116,13 @@ def do_split_packages(d, root, file_regex, output_pattern, description, postinst
 
     """
 
+    dvar = d.getVar('PKGD', True)
+
+    # If the root directory doesn't exist, don't error out later but silently do
+    # no splitting.
+    if not os.path.exists(dvar + root):
+        return
+
     ml = d.getVar("MLPREFIX", True)
     if ml:
         if not output_pattern.startswith(ml):
@@ -130,7 +137,6 @@ def do_split_packages(d, root, file_regex, output_pattern, description, postinst
         if newdeps:
             extra_depends = " ".join(newdeps)
 
-    dvar = d.getVar('PKGD', True)
 
     packages = d.getVar('PACKAGES', True).split()