diff --git a/gow.json b/gow.json
index 9cf5498212..fe6d1080fe 100644
--- a/gow.json
+++ b/gow.json
@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@
 	"pre_install": "
 		\"@cscript //NoLogo \"\"$dir\\bin\\gow.vbs\"\" %1\" | Set-Content -force \"$dir\\bin\\gow.bat\"
 	",
-   	"bin": [
+	"post_install": "
+		# create etc directory (required by bash), if needed
+		if (! (test-path \"$dir\\etc\")) { new-item -itemtype directory \"$dir\\etc\" }
+	",
+	"bin": [
 		"bin\\awk.exe",
 		"bin\\basename.exe",
 		"bin\\bash.exe",