diff --git a/drivers/overlay/overlay.go b/drivers/overlay/overlay.go
index c377b9ea06..7f79d4baaa 100644
--- a/drivers/overlay/overlay.go
+++ b/drivers/overlay/overlay.go
@@ -1706,6 +1706,10 @@ func (d *Driver) get(id string, disableShifting bool, options graphdriver.MountO
 	}
 
 	mergedDir := path.Join(workDirBase, "merged")
+	// Create the driver merged dir
+	if err := idtools.MkdirAs(mergedDir, 0o700, rootUID, rootGID); err != nil && !os.IsExist(err) {
+		return "", err
+	}
 	if count := d.ctr.Increment(mergedDir); count > 1 {
 		return mergedDir, nil
 	}