diff --git a/build/tasks/install-task.coffee b/build/tasks/install-task.coffee
index 54fecd8fc..bc8c5add4 100644
--- a/build/tasks/install-task.coffee
+++ b/build/tasks/install-task.coffee
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ module.exports = (grunt) ->
 
       # Create Atom.desktop if installation in '/usr/local'
       applicationsDir = path.join('/usr','share','applications')
-      if installDir is '/usr/local' and fs.isDirectorySync(applicationsDir)
+      tmpDir = if process.env.TMPDIR? then process.env.TMPDIR else '/tmp';
+      if installDir.indexOf(tmpDir) isnt 0 and fs.isDirectorySync(applicationsDir)
         {description} = grunt.file.readJSON('package.json')
         fillTemplate(desktopFile, {description, installDir, iconName})
         cp desktopFile, path.join(applicationsDir,'Atom.desktop')