diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index ae12f9d37..7f1550734 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
       QSettings settings(config_path.absoluteFilePath (a.applicationName () + ".ini"), QSettings::IniFormat);
 #if WSJT_QDEBUG_TO_FILE
       // // open a trace file
-      TraceFile trace_file {QDir {QApplication::applicationDirPath ()}.absoluteFilePath ("wsjtx_trace.log")};
+      TraceFile trace_file {QDir {QStandardPaths::writableLocation (QStandardPaths::TempLocation)}.absoluteFilePath (a.applicationName () + "_trace.log")};
 
       // announce to trace file
       qDebug () << program_title (revision ()) + " - Program startup";