diff --git a/roles/merge-output-to-logs/tasks/main.yaml b/roles/merge-output-to-logs/tasks/main.yaml
index a4fe8eb4d..504c87ab4 100644
--- a/roles/merge-output-to-logs/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/merge-output-to-logs/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   when: zuul.change is defined
   delegate_to: localhost
   shell: |
-    if [ -n $(ls {{ zuul.executor.work_root }}/{{ item }}) ] ; then
+    if [ -n "$(find {{ zuul.executor.work_root }}/{{ item }} -mindepth 1)" ] ; then
       # Only create target directory if it is needed.
       # Do not fail if it is already there.
       mkdir -p {{ zuul.executor.log_root }}/{{ item }}