diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/install.rb b/Library/Homebrew/install.rb
index 215845e362..1eec217d2d 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/install.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/install.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ module Homebrew
       Keg::MUST_EXIST_DIRECTORIES.each do |dir|
         begin
           FileUtils.mkdir_p(dir) unless dir.exist?
+
+          keep_file = "#{dir}/.keepme"
+          FileUtils.touch(keep_file) unless keep_file.exist?
         rescue
           nil
         end