diff --git a/Tools/autotest/autotest.py b/Tools/autotest/autotest.py
index de645e2952..1daaceddfe 100755
--- a/Tools/autotest/autotest.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/autotest.py
@@ -26,6 +26,18 @@ def get_default_params(atype):
     mavproxy.close()
     sil.close()
     print("Saved defaults for %s to %s" % (atype, dest))
+
+def test_prerequesites():
+    '''check we have the right directories and tools to run tests'''
+    print("Testing prerequesites")
+    util.mkdir_p(util.reltopdir('../buildlogs'))
+    if not os.path.exists(util.reltopdir('../HILTest/hil_quad.py')):
+        print('''
+You need to install HILTest in %s
+
+You can get it from git://git.samba.org/tridge/UAV/HILTest.git
+
+        ''' % util.reltopdir('../HILTest'))
     
 
 ############## main program #############
@@ -56,6 +68,8 @@ def skip_step(step):
 util.kill('ArduCopter.elf')
 util.kill('ArduPilot.elf')
 
+test_prerequesites()
+
 for step in steps:
     if skip_step(step):
         continue
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/util.py b/Tools/autotest/util.py
index dbd8873322..97b7caf916 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/util.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/util.py
@@ -86,3 +86,15 @@ def expect_setup_callback(e, callback):
     e.expect_user_callback = callback
     e.expect_saved = e.expect
     e.expect = _expect_callback
+
+def mkdir_p(dir):
+    '''like mkdir -p'''
+    if not dir:
+        return
+    if dir.endswith("/"):
+        mkdir_p(dir[:-1])
+        return
+    if os.path.isdir(dir):
+        return
+    mkdir_p(os.path.dirname(dir))
+    os.mkdir(dir)