diff --git a/autosklearn/util/backend.py b/autosklearn/util/backend.py
index 1f7ea70f7f..52ac678762 100644
--- a/autosklearn/util/backend.py
+++ b/autosklearn/util/backend.py
@@ -71,11 +71,17 @@ def _prepare_directories(self, temporary_directory, output_directory):
 
         self.__temporary_directory = temporary_directory \
             if temporary_directory \
-            else '/tmp/autosklearn_tmp_%d_%d' % (pid, random_number)
+            else os.path.join(
+                tempfile.gettempdir(),
+                'autosklearn_tmp_%d_%d' % (pid, random_number)
+            )
 
         self.__output_directory = output_directory \
             if output_directory \
-            else '/tmp/autosklearn_output_%d_%d' % (pid, random_number)
+            else os.path.join(
+                tempfile.gettempdir(),
+                'autosklearn_output_%d_%d' % (pid, random_number)
+            )
 
     def create_directories(self):
         if self.shared_mode:
@@ -460,4 +466,4 @@ def write_txt_file(self, filepath, data, name):
                 self.logger.debug('Created %s file %s' % (name, filepath))
             else:
                 self.logger.debug('%s file already present %s' %
-                                  (name, filepath))
\ No newline at end of file
+                                  (name, filepath))