diff --git a/lib/install/template.rb b/lib/install/template.rb
index c118ca845..b89f1d9bd 100644
--- a/lib/install/template.rb
+++ b/lib/install/template.rb
@@ -13,8 +13,12 @@
 say "Copying .browserslistrc to app root directory"
 copy_file "#{__dir__}/config/.browserslistrc", ".browserslistrc"
 
-say "Creating JavaScript app source directory"
-directory "#{__dir__}/javascript", Webpacker.config.source_path
+if Dir.exists?(Webpacker.config.source_path)
+  say "The JavaScript app source directory already exists"
+else
+  say "Creating JavaScript app source directory"
+  directory "#{__dir__}/javascript", Webpacker.config.source_path
+end
 
 apply "#{__dir__}/binstubs.rb"