diff --git a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
index 61ffad9..068b631 100644
--- a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
+++ b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
@@ -759,7 +759,8 @@
     """Create a directory like 'mkdir -p', but does not complain if
     directory already exists like os.makedirs
     """
-
+    if '${' in str(directory):
+        bb.fatal("Directory name {} contains unexpanded bitbake variable. This may cause build failures and WORKDIR polution.".format(directory))
     try:
         os.makedirs(directory)
     except OSError as e: