diff --git a/onionshare/__init__.py b/onionshare/__init__.py
index 5b95e3a1..dede3d8a 100644
--- a/onionshare/__init__.py
+++ b/onionshare/__init__.py
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ def main(cwd=None):
     web = Web(common, False, mode_settings, mode)
 
     # Start the Onion object
-    onion = Onion(common)
+    onion = Onion(common, use_tmp_dir=True)
     try:
         onion.connect(
             custom_settings=False,
diff --git a/onionshare/common.py b/onionshare/common.py
index e85403eb..7048c174 100644
--- a/onionshare/common.py
+++ b/onionshare/common.py
@@ -181,15 +181,30 @@ class Common:
         os.makedirs(onionshare_data_dir, 0o700, True)
         return onionshare_data_dir
 
+    def build_tmp_dir(self):
+        """
+        Returns path to a folder that can hold temporary files
+        """
+        tmp_dir = os.path.join(self.build_data_dir(), "tmp")
+        os.makedirs(tmp_dir, 0o700, True)
+        return tmp_dir
+
     def build_persistent_dir(self):
         """
         Returns the path to the folder that holds persistent files
         """
-        onionshare_data_dir = self.build_data_dir()
-        persistent_dir = os.path.join(onionshare_data_dir, "persistent")
+        persistent_dir = os.path.join(self.build_data_dir(), "persistent")
         os.makedirs(persistent_dir, 0o700, True)
         return persistent_dir
 
+    def build_tor_dir(self):
+        """
+        Returns path to the tor data directory
+        """
+        tor_dir = os.path.join(self.build_data_dir(), "tor_data")
+        os.makedirs(tor_dir, 0o700, True)
+        return tor_dir
+
     def build_password(self, word_count=2):
         """
         Returns a random string made of words from the wordlist, such as "deter-trig".
diff --git a/onionshare/onion.py b/onionshare/onion.py
index cce9ebfe..b04ab6b4 100644
--- a/onionshare/onion.py
+++ b/onionshare/onion.py
@@ -150,10 +150,12 @@ class Onion(object):
     is necessary for status updates to reach the GUI.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, common):
+    def __init__(self, common, use_tmp_dir=False):
         self.common = common
         self.common.log("Onion", "__init__")
 
+        self.use_tmp_dir = use_tmp_dir
+
         # Is bundled tor supported?
         if (
             self.common.platform == "Windows" or self.common.platform == "Darwin"
@@ -217,24 +219,28 @@ class Onion(object):
                 )
 
             # Create a torrc for this session
-            self.tor_data_directory = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(
-                dir=self.common.build_data_dir()
-            )
+            if self.use_tmp_dir:
+                self.tor_data_directory = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(
+                    dir=self.common.build_tmp_dir()
+                )
+                self.tor_data_directory_name = self.tor_data_directory.name
+            else:
+                self.tor_data_directory_name = self.common.build_tor_dir()
             self.common.log(
-                "Onion", "connect", f"tor_data_directory={self.tor_data_directory.name}"
+                "Onion", "connect", f"tor_data_directory_name={self.tor_data_directory_name}"
             )
 
             # Create the torrc
             with open(self.common.get_resource_path("torrc_template")) as f:
                 torrc_template = f.read()
             self.tor_cookie_auth_file = os.path.join(
-                self.tor_data_directory.name, "cookie"
+                self.tor_data_directory_name, "cookie"
             )
             try:
                 self.tor_socks_port = self.common.get_available_port(1000, 65535)
             except:
                 raise OSError(strings._("no_available_port"))
-            self.tor_torrc = os.path.join(self.tor_data_directory.name, "torrc")
+            self.tor_torrc = os.path.join(self.tor_data_directory_name, "torrc")
 
             if self.common.platform == "Windows" or self.common.platform == "Darwin":
                 # Windows doesn't support unix sockets, so it must use a network port.
@@ -252,11 +258,11 @@ class Onion(object):
                 torrc_template += "ControlSocket {{control_socket}}\n"
                 self.tor_control_port = None
                 self.tor_control_socket = os.path.join(
-                    self.tor_data_directory.name, "control_socket"
+                    self.tor_data_directory_name, "control_socket"
                 )
 
             torrc_template = torrc_template.replace(
-                "{{data_directory}}", self.tor_data_directory.name
+                "{{data_directory}}", self.tor_data_directory_name
             )
             torrc_template = torrc_template.replace(
                 "{{control_port}}", str(self.tor_control_port)