diff --git a/src/adiar/adiar.cpp b/src/adiar/adiar.cpp
index ee73a7946..908302382 100644
--- a/src/adiar/adiar.cpp
+++ b/src/adiar/adiar.cpp
@@ -70,6 +70,17 @@ namespace adiar
     }
 
     try {
+      // Set the temporary directory for TPIE before calling
+      // `tpie::tpie_init()`. This avoids a directory named `TPIE_<date>_<...>`
+      // at the default tmp path.
+
+      // - file names
+      tpie::tempname::set_default_base_name("ADIAR");
+      tpie::tempname::set_default_extension("adiar");
+
+      // - tmp directory
+      if (temp_dir != "") { tpie::tempname::set_default_path(temp_dir); }
+
       // Initialise TPIE
       tpie::tpie_init(_tpie_subsystems);
 
@@ -79,13 +90,6 @@ namespace adiar
       tpie::add_log_target(&_devnull);
 #endif
 
-      // - file names
-      tpie::tempname::set_default_base_name("ADIAR");
-      tpie::tempname::set_default_extension("adiar");
-
-      // - tmp directory
-      if (temp_dir != "") { tpie::tempname::set_default_path(temp_dir); }
-
       // - memory limit and block size
       tpie::get_memory_manager().set_limit(memory_limit_bytes);
       internal::set_block_size(internal::recommended_block_size(memory_limit_bytes));