diff --git a/bin/compose-core b/bin/compose-core
index 8de78c0..e70bc9e 100755
--- a/bin/compose-core
+++ b/bin/compose-core
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ export -f cmd_on_base_image
 
 
 cached_cmd_on_base_image() {
-    local service="$1" base_image cache_file="$state_dir/$FUNCNAME.cache.$(printf "%s\0" "$@" | md5_compat)"
+    local service="$1" base_image cache_file="$state_tmpdir/$FUNCNAME.cache.$(printf "%s\0" "$@" | md5_compat)"
     shift
     if [ -e "$cache_file" ]; then
         # debug "$FUNCNAME: cache hit ($*)"