diff --git a/build/basics.tcl b/build/basics.tcl
index a5b0e326..e59e3808 100644
--- a/build/basics.tcl
+++ b/build/basics.tcl
@@ -24,16 +24,11 @@ expect -timeout 3000 "E-O-T"
 respond "_" "quit\r"
 expect ":KILL"
 
-respond "*" ":print sys1;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
-respond "*" ":print sys2;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
-respond "*" ":print sys3;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
-respond "*" ":print device;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
-respond "*" ":print cstacy;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "sys1"
+mkdir "sys2"
+mkdir "sys3"
+mkdir "device"
+mkdir "cstacy"
 
 # TCTYP
 respond "*" ":midas sys1; ts tctyp_syseng;tctyp\r"
@@ -149,12 +144,6 @@ respond "*" ":link dragon;hourly modems,channa;ts modems\r"
 respond "*" ":midas channa;rakash papsav_sysen3;papsav\r"
 expect ":KILL"
 
-# sources dump tape now creates dragon directory and populates
-# with an initial dragon; dragon hoard file, which is required
-# by PFT
-#
-# respond "*" ":print dragon;..new. (udir)\r"
-#
 respond "*" ":midas dragon;rakash pfthmg_syseng; pft\r"
 respond "mcp=" "0\r"
 expect ":KILL"
diff --git a/build/build.tcl b/build/build.tcl
index 7e390ad8..31dde894 100644
--- a/build/build.tcl
+++ b/build/build.tcl
@@ -133,6 +133,12 @@ proc setup_timeout {} {
     expect_after timeout abort
 }
 
+proc mkdir {name} {
+    respond "*" ":print $name;..new. (udir)\r"
+    expect "FILE NOT FOUND"
+    type ":vk\r"
+}
+
 set ip [ip_address [lindex $argv 0]]
 set gw [ip_address [lindex $argv 1]]
 
diff --git a/build/lisp.tcl b/build/lisp.tcl
index c88ed713..5b029ff8 100644
--- a/build/lisp.tcl
+++ b/build/lisp.tcl
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ respond "*" ":link comlap;faslap fasl,comlap;fl.fas >\r"
 respond "*" ":link comlap;maklap fasl,comlap;mk.fas >\r"
 respond "*" ":link comlap;initia fasl,comlap;in.fas >\r"
 respond "*" ":link comlap;srctrn fasl,comlap;st.fas >\r"
-respond "*" ":print lspdmp;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "lspdmp"
 respond "*" "lisp\013"
 respond "Alloc?" "n\r"
 respond "*" "(load \"comlap;ccload\")"
diff --git a/build/macsyma.tcl b/build/macsyma.tcl
index e89a7e35..a4fbe503 100644
--- a/build/macsyma.tcl
+++ b/build/macsyma.tcl
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ respond "*" ":midas rwk;lfsdef fasl_rwk;lfsdef\r"
 expect ":KILL"
 respond "*" ":midas rat;ratlap fasl_rat;ratlap\r"
 expect ":KILL"
-respond "*" ":print maxdmp;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "maxdmp"
 respond "*" ":link maxdmp;ratlap fasl,rat;ratlap fasl\r"
 respond "*" ":link libmax;lusets fasl,liblsp;\r"
 
@@ -91,10 +90,8 @@ type ":kill\r"
 
 # build MAXTUL FASL files
 
-respond "*" ":print maxerr;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
-respond "*" ":print maxer1;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "maxerr"
+mkdir "maxer1"
 
 respond "*" "complr\013"
 respond "_" "maxtul;strmrg\r"
@@ -132,8 +129,7 @@ type ":kill\r"
 
 # build macsyma
 
-respond "*" ":print macsym;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "macsym"
 
 respond "*" ":link macsym;mdefun fasl,libmax;\r"
 
@@ -229,10 +225,8 @@ respond "_" "mrg;macros\r"
 respond "_" "\032"
 type ":kill\r"
 
-respond "*" ":print maxout;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
-respond "*" ":print share2;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "maxout"
+mkdir "share2"
 
 # Here we actually perform the compilation of Macsyma sources
 # For some unknown reason, compilation fails in the same place
diff --git a/build/mark.tcl b/build/mark.tcl
index 601b4496..0afbf729 100644
--- a/build/mark.tcl
+++ b/build/mark.tcl
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ expect ":KILL"
 # Gague free disk blocks.
 respond "*" ":listf sys\r"
 
-respond "*" ":print sysbin;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "sysbin"
 respond "*" ":midas sysbin;_midas;midas\r"
 expect ":KILL"
 respond "*" ":job midas\r"
diff --git a/build/misc.tcl b/build/misc.tcl
index 9c38256b..ee83c968 100644
--- a/build/misc.tcl
+++ b/build/misc.tcl
@@ -1541,8 +1541,7 @@ respond "*" ":palx sysbin;vxgp bin_sysen2;xgp\r"
 expect ":KILL"
 
 # CCONS.  STUFF prefers it to be in the CONS directory.
-respond "*" ":print cons;..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "cons"
 respond "*" ":palx cons;_lmcons;ccons\r"
 expect ":KILL"
 
diff --git a/build/muddle.tcl b/build/muddle.tcl
index 61a9de63..588a4c2d 100644
--- a/build/muddle.tcl
+++ b/build/muddle.tcl
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ expect ":KILL"
 respond "*" ":xfile assem xfile\r"
 expect -timeout 300 "Assembly done!"
 
-respond "*" ":print mudsav; ..new. (udir)\r"
-type ":vk\r"
+mkdir "mudsav"
 
 respond "*" ":stinkm\r"
 respond "STINK." "MMUD56 STINK\033@\033\033"