diff --git a/src/uu/install/locales/en-US.ftl b/src/uu/install/locales/en-US.ftl
index 41dbeb335e6..ee440889993 100644
--- a/src/uu/install/locales/en-US.ftl
+++ b/src/uu/install/locales/en-US.ftl
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ install-error-invalid-user = invalid user: { $user }
 install-error-invalid-group = invalid group: { $group }
 install-error-omitting-directory = omitting directory { $path }
 install-error-not-a-directory = failed to access { $path }: Not a directory
+install-error-existing-file-not-directory = cannot create directory { $path }: File exists
 install-error-override-directory-failed = cannot overwrite directory { $dir } with non-directory { $file }
 install-error-same-file = { $file1 } and { $file2 } are the same file
 install-error-extra-operand = extra operand { $operand }
diff --git a/src/uu/install/locales/fr-FR.ftl b/src/uu/install/locales/fr-FR.ftl
index 7edcd4a7faf..969cbdd72f1 100644
--- a/src/uu/install/locales/fr-FR.ftl
+++ b/src/uu/install/locales/fr-FR.ftl
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ install-error-invalid-user = utilisateur invalide : { $user }
 install-error-invalid-group = groupe invalide : { $group }
 install-error-omitting-directory = omission du répertoire { $path }
 install-error-not-a-directory = échec de l'accès à { $path } : N'est pas un répertoire
+install-error-existing-file-not-directory = impossible de créer le répertoire { $path } : Le fichier existe
 install-error-override-directory-failed = impossible d'écraser le répertoire { $dir } avec un non-répertoire { $file }
 install-error-same-file = { $file1 } et { $file2 } sont le même fichier
 install-error-extra-operand = opérande supplémentaire { $operand }
diff --git a/src/uu/install/src/install.rs b/src/uu/install/src/install.rs
index c70873bdebc..ab6b6cfb49a 100644
--- a/src/uu/install/src/install.rs
+++ b/src/uu/install/src/install.rs
@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ enum InstallError {
     #[error("{}", translate!("install-error-not-a-directory", "path" => .0.quote()))]
     NotADirectory(PathBuf),
 
+    #[error("{}", translate!("install-error-existing-file-not-directory", "path" => .0.quote()))]
+    ExistingFileNotADirectory(PathBuf),
+
     #[error("{}", translate!("install-error-override-directory-failed", "dir" => .0.quote(), "file" => .1.quote()))]
     OverrideDirectoryFailed(PathBuf, PathBuf),
 
@@ -499,8 +502,13 @@ fn directory(paths: &[OsString], b: &Behavior) -> UResult<()> {
         Err(InstallError::DirNeedsArg.into())
     } else {
         for path in paths.iter().map(Path::new) {
-            // if the path already exist, don't try to create it again
-            if !path.exists() {
+            // if the path already exist, check if it's a file
+            if path.exists() {
+                if !path.is_dir() {
+                    show!(InstallError::ExistingFileNotADirectory(path.to_path_buf()));
+                    continue;
+                }
+            } else {
                 // Special case to match GNU's behavior:
                 // install -d foo/. should work and just create foo/
                 // std::fs::create_dir("foo/."); fails in pure Rust
diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_install.rs b/tests/by-util/test_install.rs
index eddcc36c224..4251c8a6400 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_install.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_install.rs
@@ -1700,6 +1700,53 @@ fn test_install_dir_dot() {
     assert!(at.dir_exists("dir6"));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_install_dir_with_existing_file() {
+    let scene = TestScenario::new(util_name!());
+    let at = &scene.fixtures;
+
+    let newdir1 = "newdir1";
+    let existing_file = "existing_file";
+    let newdir2 = "newdir2";
+    at.touch(existing_file);
+
+    scene
+        .ucmd()
+        .arg("-d")
+        .arg(newdir1)
+        .arg(existing_file)
+        .arg(newdir2)
+        .fails()
+        .stderr_contains("cannot create directory 'existing_file': File exists");
+
+    assert!(at.dir_exists(newdir1));
+    assert!(!at.dir_exists(existing_file));
+    assert!(at.dir_exists(newdir2));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_install_dir_with_multiple_existing_files() {
+    let scene = TestScenario::new(util_name!());
+    let at = &scene.fixtures;
+    let file1 = "file1";
+    let file2 = "file2";
+
+    at.touch(file1);
+    at.touch(file2);
+
+    scene
+        .ucmd()
+        .arg("-d")
+        .arg(file1)
+        .arg(file2)
+        .fails()
+        .stderr_contains("cannot create directory 'file1': File exists")
+        .stderr_contains("cannot create directory 'file2': File exists");
+
+    assert!(at.file_exists(file1));
+    assert!(at.file_exists(file2));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_install_dir_req_verbose() {
     let scene = TestScenario::new(util_name!());