diff --git a/workflow/qhtcp-workflow b/workflow/qhtcp-workflow
index 8d024c7a..85289e02 100755
--- a/workflow/qhtcp-workflow
+++ b/workflow/qhtcp-workflow
@@ -1519,7 +1519,9 @@ main() {
 
   if [[ -z $OUT_DIR ]]; then
     echo "No output directory found"
-    if ask "Create $SCRIPT_DIR/out? "; then
+    declare -g OUT_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/out"
+    if ask "Create $SCRIPT_DIR/out?"; then
+      debug "mkdir $SCRIPT_DIR/out"
       mkdir "$SCRIPT_DIR/out"
     else
       err "No output directory, but attempting to continue..."