diff --git a/sys-cluster/sanlock/sanlock-5.1.0-r2.ebuild b/sys-cluster/sanlock/sanlock-5.1.0-r2.ebuild
index 6451a87b45452..29a01d86fb4e1 100644
--- a/sys-cluster/sanlock/sanlock-5.1.0-r2.ebuild
+++ b/sys-cluster/sanlock/sanlock-5.1.0-r2.ebuild
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ src_install() {
 	if use python; then
 		distutils-r1_src_install
 	fi
+	keepdir /var/lib/sanlock
 
 	# config
 	dodir /etc/wdmd.d