diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache.py b/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache.py
index 6f30551e..84705202 100644
--- a/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache.py
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def _map_to_margin_shards(client, args, partition_pixels, margin_pairs):
                 partition_file=partition_file,
                 margin_pairs=mp_future,
                 margin_threshold=args.margin_threshold,
-                output_path=args.catalog_path,
+                output_path=args.tmp_path,
                 margin_order=args.margin_order,
                 ra_column=args.catalog.catalog_info.ra_column,
                 dec_column=args.catalog.catalog_info.dec_column,
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ def _reduce_margin_shards(client, args, partition_pixels):
         futures.append(
             client.submit(
                 mcmr.reduce_margin_shards,
+                intermediate_directory=args.tmp_path,
                 output_path=args.catalog_path,
                 partition_order=pix.order,
                 partition_pixel=pix.pixel,
diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache_map_reduce.py b/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache_map_reduce.py
index 4eb6f194..9ac7743c 100644
--- a/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache_map_reduce.py
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/margin_cache/margin_cache_map_reduce.py
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ def _to_pixel_shard(data, margin_threshold, output_path, ra_column, dec_column):
         del data, margin_data, final_df
 
 
-def reduce_margin_shards(output_path, partition_order, partition_pixel):
+def reduce_margin_shards(intermediate_directory, output_path, partition_order, partition_pixel):
     """Reduce all partition pixel directories into a single file"""
-    shard_dir = get_pixel_cache_directory(output_path, HealpixPixel(partition_order, partition_pixel))
+    shard_dir = get_pixel_cache_directory(intermediate_directory, HealpixPixel(partition_order, partition_pixel))
 
     if file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(shard_dir):
         data = ds.dataset(shard_dir, format="parquet")
diff --git a/tests/hipscat_import/margin_cache/test_margin_cache_map_reduce.py b/tests/hipscat_import/margin_cache/test_margin_cache_map_reduce.py
index 5f150d57..deec432c 100644
--- a/tests/hipscat_import/margin_cache/test_margin_cache_map_reduce.py
+++ b/tests/hipscat_import/margin_cache/test_margin_cache_map_reduce.py
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ def test_to_pixel_shard_polar(tmp_path, polar_data_shard_df):
 
 @pytest.mark.dask
 def test_reduce_margin_shards(tmp_path, basic_data_shard_df):
-    partition_dir = get_pixel_cache_directory(tmp_path, HealpixPixel(1, 21))
+    intermediate_dir = os.path.join(tmp_path, "intermediate")
+    partition_dir = get_pixel_cache_directory(intermediate_dir, HealpixPixel(1, 21))
     shard_dir = paths.pixel_directory(partition_dir, 1, 21)
 
     os.makedirs(shard_dir)
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ def test_reduce_margin_shards(tmp_path, basic_data_shard_df):
     shard_df.to_parquet(first_shard_path)
     shard_df.to_parquet(second_shard_path)
 
-    margin_cache_map_reduce.reduce_margin_shards(tmp_path, 1, 21)
+    margin_cache_map_reduce.reduce_margin_shards(intermediate_dir, tmp_path, 1, 21)
 
     result_path = paths.pixel_catalog_file(tmp_path, 1, 21)