attributes[:workdir] is empty when invoked via fpm-cookery just rely on os value, don't define at all --- ./lib/fpm/package/rpm.rb~ 2015-08-10 23:07:09.000000000 +0300 +++ ./lib/fpm/package/rpm.rb 2015-08-21 17:11:59.163252070 +0300 @@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ "--define", "_topdir #{build_path}", "--define", "_sourcedir #{build_path}", "--define", "_rpmdir #{build_path}/RPMS", - "--define", "_tmppath #{attributes[:workdir]}" +# "--define", "_tmppath #{attributes[:workdir]}" ] args += ["--sign"] if attributes[:rpm_sign?]