diff --git a/lib/libc/stdio/tmpfile.c b/lib/libc/stdio/tmpfile.c
index 0c98ad3ee25..b38e0bca83b 100644
--- a/lib/libc/stdio/tmpfile.c
+++ b/lib/libc/stdio/tmpfile.c
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ tmpfile()
 	char *buf;
 	const char *tmpdir;
 
-	tmpdir = getenv("TMPDIR");
+	if (issetugid() == 0)
+		tmpdir = getenv("TMPDIR");
 	if (tmpdir == NULL)
 		tmpdir = _PATH_TMP;