diff --git a/tools/binman/control.py b/tools/binman/control.py
index ab94f9d..f9680e3 100644
--- a/tools/binman/control.py
+++ b/tools/binman/control.py
@@ -342,7 +342,11 @@
         return 0
 
     if args.cmd == 'ls':
-        ListEntries(args.image, args.paths)
+        try:
+            tools.PrepareOutputDir(None)
+            ListEntries(args.image, args.paths)
+        finally:
+            tools.FinaliseOutputDir()
         return 0
 
     if args.cmd == 'extract':