diff --git a/pdf2odt b/pdf2odt
index d38bb07..e1ddf05 100755
--- a/pdf2odt
+++ b/pdf2odt
@@ -173,13 +173,7 @@ if [ -e "${out}" ] &&
 fi
 
 # Set up temporary staging directory
-TMPDIR="/tmp/pdf2odt.$$"
-[ \! -e "${TMPDIR}" ] || {
-  echo "Staging directory ${TMPDIR} already exists" >&2
-  exit 1
-}
-trap 'rm -rf "${TMPDIR}"' EXIT INT TERM QUIT HUP
-mkdir -p "${TMPDIR}"
+TMPDIR=$(mktemp -d)
 
 # Adjust DPI so that the image fits on a letter- or a4-sized page.
 function scale() {