diff --git a/subr/build_init.subr b/subr/build_init.subr
index 03063b4..3dd3901 100644
--- a/subr/build_init.subr
+++ b/subr/build_init.subr
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ buildp_init_files() {
 		_rc=1; _status="Error: failed to clean environment.";
 	elif ! rtl_check_path_vars "${DEFAULT_CHECK_PATH_VARS}"; then
 		_rc=1; _status="${_status}";
-	else	touch "${DEFAULT_BUILD_STATUS_IN_PROGRESS_FNAME}";
+	else	export TMP="${BUILD_WORKDIR}" TMPDIR="${BUILD_WORKDIR}";
+		touch "${DEFAULT_BUILD_STATUS_IN_PROGRESS_FNAME}";
 		if [ -e "${DEFAULT_BUILD_LOG_FNAME}" ]; then
 			while [ -e "${DEFAULT_BUILD_LOG_FNAME}.${_log_last_num}" ]; do
 				: $((_log_last_num+=1));
diff --git a/subr/pkgtool_init.subr b/subr/pkgtool_init.subr
index 4d096e1..2ea2790 100644
--- a/subr/pkgtool_init.subr
+++ b/subr/pkgtool_init.subr
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pkgtoolp_init_args() {
 	&&   [ -z "${ARG_RESTART_AT}" ]\
 	&&   [ "${ARG_UPDATE_DIFF:-0}" -eq 0 ]; then
 		cat etc/pkgtool.usage; _rc=1; _status="Error: one of -i, -r, -s, or -t must be specified.";
-	else	_rc=0;
+	else	_rc=0; export TMP="${BUILD_WORKDIR}" TMPDIR="${BUILD_WORKDIR}";
 	fi; return "${_rc}";
 };