diff --git a/puppet/zulip/manifests/external_dep.pp b/puppet/zulip/manifests/external_dep.pp
index 90ebae54cf..e275fed7b9 100644
--- a/puppet/zulip/manifests/external_dep.pp
+++ b/puppet/zulip/manifests/external_dep.pp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ define zulip::external_dep(
       before       => File[$path],
     }
     file { $path:
-      ensure => directory,
+      ensure => present,
     }
   }