diff --git a/python/qemu/machine.py b/python/qemu/machine.py
index 6420f01bed..64d966aeeb 100644
--- a/python/qemu/machine.py
+++ b/python/qemu/machine.py
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ class QEMUMachine:
         return args
 
     def _pre_launch(self) -> None:
-        self._temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=self._test_dir)
+        self._temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="qemu-machine-",
+                                          dir=self._test_dir)
         self._qemu_log_path = os.path.join(self._temp_dir, self._name + ".log")
         self._qemu_log_file = open(self._qemu_log_path, 'wb')
 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py b/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
index 4cda037187..307020be45 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
@@ -171,7 +171,8 @@ class Test(avocado.Test):
             self.cancel("No QEMU binary defined or found in the build tree")
 
     def _new_vm(self, *args):
-        vm = QEMUMachine(self.qemu_bin, sock_dir=tempfile.mkdtemp())
+        sd = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="avo_qemu_sock_")
+        vm = QEMUMachine(self.qemu_bin, sock_dir=sd)
         if args:
             vm.add_args(*args)
         return vm