diff --git a/test/run/test_stages.py b/test/run/test_stages.py
index ed1063ee1..5b7f4412d 100644
--- a/test/run/test_stages.py
+++ b/test/run/test_stages.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import glob
 import json
 import os
+import pathlib
 import pprint
 import random
 import re
@@ -190,6 +191,14 @@ def path_equal_or_is_descendant(path, potential_ancestor):
                 raise_assertion(f"after values are different: {difference1_values[1]}, {difference2_values[1]}")
 
 
+# T0DO: find a nicer way
+# overriding the build-in "tmp_path" so that we get the dir under /var/tmpx
+@pytest.fixture(name="tmp_path")
+def tmp_path_fixture():
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir="/var/tmp") as tmp:
+        yield pathlib.Path(tmp)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("test_dir", [
     os.path.dirname(p)
     for p in glob.glob(os.path.join(test.TestBase.locate_test_data(), "stages/*/diff*.json"))