diff --git a/libpod/options.go b/libpod/options.go
index ccb15f736a..deb78a9e02 100644
--- a/libpod/options.go
+++ b/libpod/options.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 
+	"github.com/containers/buildah/pkg/parse"
 	"github.com/containers/common/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/containers/common/pkg/secrets"
 	"github.com/containers/image/v5/manifest"
@@ -268,8 +269,11 @@ func WithRegistriesConf(path string) RuntimeOption {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "error locating specified registries.conf")
 		}
 		if rt.imageContext == nil {
-			rt.imageContext = &types.SystemContext{}
+			rt.imageContext = &types.SystemContext{
+				BigFilesTemporaryDir: parse.GetTempDir(),
+			}
 		}
+
 		rt.imageContext.SystemRegistriesConfPath = path
 		return nil
 	}
diff --git a/libpod/runtime.go b/libpod/runtime.go
index f0c85df3b0..7099f55f20 100644
--- a/libpod/runtime.go
+++ b/libpod/runtime.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/containers/buildah/pkg/parse"
 	"github.com/containers/common/libimage"
 	"github.com/containers/common/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/containers/image/v5/pkg/sysregistriesv2"
@@ -379,7 +380,9 @@ func makeRuntime(ctx context.Context, runtime *Runtime) (retErr error) {
 
 	// Set up containers/image
 	if runtime.imageContext == nil {
-		runtime.imageContext = &types.SystemContext{}
+		runtime.imageContext = &types.SystemContext{
+			BigFilesTemporaryDir: parse.GetTempDir(),
+		}
 	}
 	runtime.imageContext.SignaturePolicyPath = runtime.config.Engine.SignaturePolicyPath