--- a/src/tests/test_env.sh.in
+++ b/src/tests/test_env.sh.in
@@ -72,7 +72,13 @@
 
 # Qpid options
 export QPID_NO_MODULE_DIR=1	# Don't accidentally load installed modules
-export QPID_DATA_DIR= 		# Default to no data dir, not ~/.qpidd
+export QPID_DATA_DIR=
+
+# Use temporary directory if $HOME does not exist
+if [ ! -e "$HOME" ]; then
+    export QPID_DATA_DIR=/tmp/qpid
+    export QPID_PID_DIR=/tmp/qpid
+fi
 
 # Options for boost test framework
 export BOOST_TEST_SHOW_PROGRESS=yes
--- a/examples/old_api/verify
+++ b/examples/old_api/verify
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/sh
+#!/bin/bash
 
 #
 # Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
@@ -30,9 +30,16 @@
 # If $QPID_HOST or $QPID_PORT are set, use them to connect.
 #
 
-QPID_DATA_DIR=
 QPID_NO_MODULE_DIR=1
-export QPID_DATA_DIR QPID_NO_MODULE_DIR
+QPID_DATA_DIR=
+
+# Use temporary directory if $HOME does not exist
+if [ ! -e "$HOME" ]; then
+    QPID_DATA_DIR=/tmp/qpid
+    QPID_PID_DIR=/tmp/qpid
+fi
+
+export QPID_DATA_DIR QPID_NO_MODULE_DIR QPID_PID_DIR
 
 cleanup() {
     test -n "$QPIDD" &&  $QPIDD -q # Private broker
--- a/examples/old_api/verify_all
+++ b/examples/old_api/verify_all
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/sh
+#!/bin/bash
 
 #
 # Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@
 broker_args=$3
 exclude_regexp=$4
 
+# Use temporary directory if $HOME does not exist
+if ! test -e "$HOME"; then
+    export QPID_DATA_DIR=/tmp/qpid
+    export QPID_PID_DIR=/tmp/qpid
+fi
+
 trap "$qpidd -q" exit
 QPID_PORT=`$qpidd -dp0 $broker_args` || { echo "Can't run qpidd" ; exit 1; }
 export QPID_PORT
