diff --git a/hail/python/hail/backend/backend.py b/hail/python/hail/backend/backend.py
index e7e14bbe90a8..dd35b670e660 100644
--- a/hail/python/hail/backend/backend.py
+++ b/hail/python/hail/backend/backend.py
@@ -392,3 +392,13 @@ def get_flags(self, *flags) -> Mapping[str, str]:
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def requires_lowering(self):
         pass
+
+    @property
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def local_tmpdir(self) -> str:
+        pass
+
+    @property
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def remote_tmpdir(self) -> str:
+        pass
diff --git a/hail/python/hail/backend/py4j_backend.py b/hail/python/hail/backend/py4j_backend.py
index d59ae456a937..c34ca1d6b986 100644
--- a/hail/python/hail/backend/py4j_backend.py
+++ b/hail/python/hail/backend/py4j_backend.py
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ def decode_bytearray(encoded):
         self._jhc = jhc
 
         self._jbackend = self._hail_package.backend.api.Py4JBackendApi(jbackend)
-        self._jbackend.pySetLocalTmp(tmpdir)
-        self._jbackend.pySetRemoteTmp(remote_tmpdir)
+        self.local_tmpdir = tmpdir
+        self.remote_tmpdir = tmpdir
 
         self._jhttp_server = self._jbackend.pyHttpServer()
         self._backend_server_port: int = self._jhttp_server.port()
@@ -326,3 +326,21 @@ def stop(self):
         self._jhc = None
         uninstall_exception_handler()
         super().stop()
+
+    @property
+    def local_tmpdir(self) -> str:
+        return self._local_tmpdir
+
+    @local_tmpdir.setter
+    def local_tmpdir(self, tmpdir) -> str:
+        self._local_tmpdir = tmpdir
+        self._jbackend.pySetLocalTmp(tmpdir)
+
+    @property
+    def remote_tmpdir(self) -> str:
+        return self._remote_tmpdir
+
+    @remote_tmpdir.setter
+    def remote_tmpdir(self, tmpdir) -> str:
+        self._remote_tmpdir = tmpdir
+        self._jbackend.pySetRemoteTmp(tmpdir)
diff --git a/hail/python/hail/backend/service_backend.py b/hail/python/hail/backend/service_backend.py
index d753dab03ed1..e9fd13537c9f 100644
--- a/hail/python/hail/backend/service_backend.py
+++ b/hail/python/hail/backend/service_backend.py
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._batch_was_submitted: bool = False
         self.disable_progress_bar = disable_progress_bar
         self.batch_attributes = batch_attributes
+        self.local_tmpdir = tmp_dir()
         self.remote_tmpdir = remote_tmpdir
         self.flags: Dict[str, str] = {}
         self._registered_ir_function_names: Set[str] = set()
@@ -441,7 +442,7 @@ async def _async_rpc(self, action: ActionTag, payload: ActionPayload):
         return await self._run_on_batch(
             name=f'{action.name.lower()}(...)',
             service_backend_config=ServiceBackendRPCConfig(
-                tmp_dir=tmp_dir(),
+                tmp_dir=self.local_tmpdir,
                 remote_tmpdir=self.remote_tmpdir,
                 flags=self.flags,
                 custom_references=[