diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 22d8572..460daff 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ release:
     - echo "Setting up Python dependencies..."
     - source $VIRTUAL_ENV/bin/activate
     - pip install -r requirements.txt
+    - mkdir -p /app/backend/ssl
     - rm -f openapi.json || true
     - rm -rf python-client || true
     - bash make_openapi_client.sh        # Generate OpenAPI client and package