diff --git a/checkstyle/plugin.jelly b/checkstyle/plugin.jelly
index d7d38c6e..a25c0a8c 100644
--- a/checkstyle/plugin.jelly
+++ b/checkstyle/plugin.jelly
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@
       =  Though, we recommend that you edit this License.             =
       =================================================================
         </ant:echo>
+        <j:if test="${!maven.build.dir.exists()}">
+          <ant:mkdir dir="${maven.build.dir}"/>
+        </j:if>
         <j:set var="maven.checkstyle.header.file" value="${maven.build.dir}/LICENSE_DUMMY.txt" />
         <j:file name="${maven.checkstyle.header.file}" />
       </j:if>
diff --git a/checkstyle/project.xml b/checkstyle/project.xml
index 6d62b516..aa39b373 100644
--- a/checkstyle/project.xml
+++ b/checkstyle/project.xml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
   <pomVersion>3</pomVersion>
   <id>maven-checkstyle-plugin</id>
   <name>Maven Checkstyle Plugin</name>
-  <currentVersion>2.4.1</currentVersion>
+  <currentVersion>2.4.2-SNAPSHOT</currentVersion>
   <description/>
   <shortDescription>Produce Checkstyle report</shortDescription>
   <url>http://maven.apache.org/reference/plugins/checkstyle/</url>
@@ -103,6 +103,16 @@
         <role>Java Developer</role>
       </roles>
     </developer>
+    <developer>
+      <name>Arnaud Heritier</name>
+      <id>aheritier</id>
+      <email>aheritier@apache.org</email>
+      <organization/>
+      <roles>
+        <role>Developer</role>
+      </roles>
+      <timezone>+1</timezone>
+    </developer>    
   </developers>
   <contributors>
     <contributor>
diff --git a/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml b/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml
index 7e7582a5..64c39485 100644
--- a/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml
+++ b/checkstyle/xdocs/changes.xml
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@
     <author email="vmassol@apache.org">Vincent Massol</author>
     <author email="evenisse@ifrance.com">Emmanuel Venisse</author>
   </properties>
-  <body>
+  <body> 
+    <release version="2.4.2-SNAPSHOT" date="In CVS">
+      <action dev="aheritier" type="fix" issue="MPCHECKSTYLE-21">Fix : Build failed if target directory and License file didn't exist.</action>
+    </release>  
     <release version="2.4.1" date="2004-05-18">
       <action dev="brett" type="fix">Fix checks built into plugin when not run on Windows.</action>
     </release>
