diff --git a/pym/update/update.py b/pym/update/update.py
index 469ed74..577ab86 100644
--- a/pym/update/update.py
+++ b/pym/update/update.py
@@ -593,8 +593,6 @@ class Update(MethodsInterface):
                 for perc in p.progress():
                     self.setProgress(perc)
             else:
-                rpath_old = f"{rpath}_old"
-                makeDirectory(rpath_old)
                 for root, dirs, files in os.walk(rpath):
                     for f in files:
                         os.replace(os.path.join(rpath, d), os.path.join(rpath_old, f))
@@ -603,6 +601,8 @@ class Update(MethodsInterface):
                 clearDirectory(rpath)
                 p = process(emerge, "--sync", repname, stderr=STDOUT)
             if p.failed():
+                rpath_old = f"{rpath}_old"
+                makeDirectory(rpath_old)
                 for root, dirs, files in os.walk(rpath_old):
                     for f in files:
                         os.replace(os.path.join(rpath_old, d), os.path.join(rpath, f))