diff --git a/package/irqbalance/S13irqbalance b/package/irqbalance/S13irqbalance
index b06a3372e9..f6ed9291be 100644
--- a/package/irqbalance/S13irqbalance
+++ b/package/irqbalance/S13irqbalance
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ PID="/var/run/irqbalance.pid"
 case "$1" in
     start)
 	printf "Starting irqbalance: "
+	# for irqbalance socket /run/irqbalance/irqbalance<pid>.sock
+	mkdir -p /run/irqbalance
 	start-stop-daemon -S -q -x $EXEC -- $ARGS
 	if [ $? != 0 ]; then
 	    echo "FAILED"