diff --git a/git_command.py b/git_command.py
index 954bebada..7ff1abacc 100644
--- a/git_command.py
+++ b/git_command.py
@@ -35,8 +35,11 @@ def _ssh_sock(create=True):
   if _ssh_sock_path is None:
     if not create:
       return None
+    dir = '/tmp'
+    if not os.path.exists(dir):
+      dir = tempfile.gettempdir()
     _ssh_sock_path = os.path.join(
-      tempfile.mkdtemp('', 'ssh-'),
+      tempfile.mkdtemp('', 'ssh-', dir),
       'master-%r@%h:%p')
   return _ssh_sock_path