diff --git a/backup/pvc/bin/backup.sh b/backup/pvc/bin/backup.sh
index 3b8ea206..ece33b53 100644
--- a/backup/pvc/bin/backup.sh
+++ b/backup/pvc/bin/backup.sh
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ set -eo pipefail
 
 [[ ! $# -eq 1 ]] && echo "Usage: $0 backup_number" && exit 1;
 [[ -z "${BACKUP_DIR}" ]] && echo "Required 'BACKUP_DIR' env not set" && exit 1;
-[[ -z "${BACKUP_TMP_DIR}" ]] && echo "Required 'BACKUP_TMP_DIR' env not set" && exit 1;
 [[ -z "${JENKINS_HOME}" ]] && echo "Required 'JENKINS_HOME' env not set" && exit 1;
+BACKUP_TMP_DIR=${BACKUP_TMP_DIR:-/tmp}
 
 backup_number=$1
 echo "Running backup"
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ mv ${BACKUP_TMP_DIR}/${backup_number}.tar.gz ${BACKUP_DIR}/${backup_number}.tar.
 [[ ! -s ${BACKUP_DIR}/${backup_number}.tar.gz ]] && echo "backup file '${BACKUP_DIR}/${backup_number}.tar.gz' is empty" && exit 1;
 
 echo Done
-exit 0
\ No newline at end of file
+exit 0