diff --git a/t/t5505-remote.sh b/t/t5505-remote.sh
index fff14e13ed..6c1581e530 100755
--- a/t/t5505-remote.sh
+++ b/t/t5505-remote.sh
@@ -962,6 +962,7 @@ test_expect_success 'migrate a remote from named file in $GIT_DIR/branches' '
 	(
 		cd six &&
 		git remote rm origin &&
+		mkdir -p .git/branches &&
 		echo "$origin_url#main" >.git/branches/origin &&
 		git remote rename origin origin &&
 		test_path_is_missing .git/branches/origin &&
@@ -976,6 +977,7 @@ test_expect_success 'migrate a remote from named file in $GIT_DIR/branches (2)'
 	(
 		cd seven &&
 		git remote rm origin &&
+		mkdir -p .git/branches &&
 		echo "quux#foom" > .git/branches/origin &&
 		git remote rename origin origin &&
 		test_path_is_missing .git/branches/origin &&
diff --git a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
index 541adbb310..189cb1875a 100755
--- a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
+++ b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
@@ -937,6 +937,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch with branches' '
 	mk_empty testrepo &&
 	git branch second $the_first_commit &&
 	git checkout second &&
+	mkdir -p testrepo/.git/branches &&
 	echo ".." > testrepo/.git/branches/branch1 &&
 	(
 		cd testrepo &&
@@ -950,6 +951,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch with branches' '
 
 test_expect_success 'fetch with branches containing #' '
 	mk_empty testrepo &&
+	mkdir -p testrepo/.git/branches &&
 	echo "..#second" > testrepo/.git/branches/branch2 &&
 	(
 		cd testrepo &&
@@ -964,6 +966,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch with branches containing #' '
 test_expect_success 'push with branches' '
 	mk_empty testrepo &&
 	git checkout second &&
+	mkdir -p .git/branches &&
 	echo "testrepo" > .git/branches/branch1 &&
 	git push branch1 &&
 	(
@@ -976,6 +979,7 @@ test_expect_success 'push with branches' '
 
 test_expect_success 'push with branches containing #' '
 	mk_empty testrepo &&
+	mkdir -p .git/branches &&
 	echo "testrepo#branch3" > .git/branches/branch2 &&
 	git push branch2 &&
 	(