diff --git a/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py b/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py
index fa331f66b..29a5c502d 100644
--- a/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py
+++ b/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ def _setup_nosync(self):
         multilib = ('x86_64', 's390x')
         # ld_preload need to be same as in bootstrap because we call DNF in bootstrap, but
         # but it will load nosync from the final chroot
-        if self.bootstrap_buildroot is not None:
+        if self.bootstrap_buildroot is not None and self.bootstrap_buildroot.tmpdir is not None:
             self.tmpdir = self.bootstrap_buildroot.tmpdir
             if not os.path.isdir(self.tmpdir):
                 os.mkdir(self.tmpdir, 0o700)
diff --git a/releng/release-notes-next/fix-mock-init.bugfix b/releng/release-notes-next/fix-mock-init.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..069a3c38b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releng/release-notes-next/fix-mock-init.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+mock --init occasionally failed because bootstrap buildroot hadn't
+set up its temporary directory ([issue#1351][]).
+