diff --git a/lib/blockchain/chaindb.js b/lib/blockchain/chaindb.js
index 6c0f07cda..6d6468a4c 100644
--- a/lib/blockchain/chaindb.js
+++ b/lib/blockchain/chaindb.js
@@ -63,6 +63,15 @@ class ChainDB {
     this.logger = this.options.logger.context('chaindb');
     this.blocks = options.blocks;
 
+    if (this.options.compactionDirectory == null) {
+      this.options.compactionDirectory = this.options.treePrefix + '~';
+    }
+
+    // Allow users to specify a custom compaction directory
+    if (options.customCompactionDirectory != null) {
+      this.options.compactionDirectory = options.customCompactionDirectory;
+    }
+
     this.db = bdb.create(this.options);
     this.name = 'chain';
     this.version = 3;
@@ -1020,7 +1029,7 @@ class ChainDB {
     ));
     await this.commit();
 
-    const tmpDir = this.options.treePrefix + '~';
+    const tmpDir = this.options.compactionDirectory;
 
     const tmpTree = new Tree({
       hash: blake2b,