diff --git a/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c b/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c
index f334bcb0..2df0f971 100644
--- a/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c
+++ b/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c
@@ -8141,6 +8141,15 @@ static void exit_main(void)
 	brick_msleep(1000);
 }
 
+static noinline
+void ensure_actual(char *peer)
+{
+	char *actual_dir = path_make("/mars/actual-%s", peer);
+
+	(void)mars_mkdir(actual_dir);
+	brick_string_free(actual_dir);
+}
+
 static int __init init_main(void)
 {
 #if defined(MARS_HAS_PREPATCH) ||		\
@@ -8237,6 +8246,11 @@ static int __init init_main(void)
 	brick_mem_reserve();
 #endif
 
+	/* Ensure that the bare minimum is present, even when
+	 * userspace support is missing.
+	 */
+	ensure_actual(my_id());
+
 	status = compute_emergency_mode();
 	if (unlikely(status < 0)) {
 		MARS_ERR("Sorry, your /mars/ filesystem is too small!\n");