diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/install.rb b/Library/Homebrew/install.rb
index 215845e362..1d07053e03 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/install.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/install.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ module Homebrew
       Keg::MUST_EXIST_DIRECTORIES.each do |dir|
         begin
           FileUtils.mkdir_p(dir) unless dir.exist?
+
+          # Create these files to ensure that these directories aren't removed
+          # by the Catalina installer.
+          # (https://github.com/Homebrew/brew/issues/6263)
+          keep_file = dir/".keepme"
+          FileUtils.touch(keep_file) unless keep_file.exist?
         rescue
           nil
         end