diff --git a/docs/GettingStarted.md b/docs/GettingStarted.md
index 06824af20c..d214e6d787 100644
--- a/docs/GettingStarted.md
+++ b/docs/GettingStarted.md
@@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ requires a version of libcapnp which is not yet part of a release. Most of
 the ESI cosim integration tests also require the python bindings: pycapnp.
 The `utils/get-capnp.sh` script downloads, compiles, and installs a known
 good version to a directory within the circt source code. It optionally
-installs pycapnp via 'pip3'. Alternatively, you can use a docker image we
-provide via `utils/run-docker.sh`.
+installs pycapnp via 'pip3'. The capnp compile requires libtool.
+Alternatively, you can use a docker image we provide via
+`utils/run-docker.sh`.
 
 ## Submitting changes to CIRCT
 
diff --git a/utils/get-capnp.sh b/utils/get-capnp.sh
index 6edf59cba0..4c51a77be3 100755
--- a/utils/get-capnp.sh
+++ b/utils/get-capnp.sh
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 echo "Do you wish to install pycapnp? Cosim integration tests require pycapnp."
 read -p "Yes to confirm: " yn
 case $yn in
-    [Yy]* ) pip3 install pycapnp; break ;;
+    [Yy]* ) pip3 install pycapnp;;
     * ) echo "Skipping.";;
 esac
 
+mkdir -p "$(dirname "$BASH_SOURCE[0]")/../ext"
 EXT_DIR=$(cd "$(dirname "$BASH_SOURCE[0]")/../ext" && pwd)
 CAPNP_VER=0f1bf4fce79923fb4974aa55a53e26450f83f286
 echo "Installing capnproto..."
diff --git a/utils/get-verilator.sh b/utils/get-verilator.sh
index 484de4efe7..081fae4a71 100755
--- a/utils/get-verilator.sh
+++ b/utils/get-verilator.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #
 ##===----------------------------------------------------------------------===##
 
+mkdir -p "$(dirname "$BASH_SOURCE[0]")/../ext"
 EXT_DIR=$(cd "$(dirname "$BASH_SOURCE[0]")/../ext" && pwd)
 VERILATOR_VER=4.110