diff --git a/tuf/interposition/configuration.py b/tuf/interposition/configuration.py
index 5a66e4af..295ccac6 100644
--- a/tuf/interposition/configuration.py
+++ b/tuf/interposition/configuration.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import os.path
-import tempfile
 import types
 import urlparse
 
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ def __init__(self, hostname, port, repository_directory, repository_mirrors,
     self.repository_mirrors = repository_mirrors
     self.target_paths = target_paths
     self.ssl_certificates = ssl_certificates
-    self.tempdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
 
 
   def __repr__(self):
diff --git a/tuf/interposition/updater.py b/tuf/interposition/updater.py
index 1a54ac47..15a789f7 100644
--- a/tuf/interposition/updater.py
+++ b/tuf/interposition/updater.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import os.path
 import re
 import shutil
+import tempfile
 import urllib
 import urlparse
 
@@ -37,7 +38,12 @@ class Updater(object):
 
 
   def __init__(self, configuration):
+    CREATED_TEMPDIR_MESSAGE = "Created temporary directory at {tempdir}"
+
     self.configuration = configuration
+    # A temporary directory used for this updater over runtime.
+    self.tempdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+    Logger.debug(CREATED_TEMPDIR_MESSAGE.format(tempdir=self.tempdir))
 
     # must switch context before instantiating updater
     # because updater depends on some module (tuf.conf) variables
@@ -46,11 +52,19 @@ def __init__(self, configuration):
                                               self.configuration.repository_mirrors)
 
 
+  def cleanup(self):
+    """Clean up after certain side effects, such as temporary directories."""
+
+    DELETED_TEMPDIR_MESSAGE = "Deleted temporary directory at {tempdir}"
+    shutil.rmtree(self.tempdir)
+    Logger.debug(DELETED_TEMPDIR_MESSAGE.format(tempdir=self.tempdir))
+
+
   def download_target(self, target_filepath):
     """Downloads target with TUF as a side effect."""
 
     # download file into a temporary directory shared over runtime
-    destination_directory = self.configuration.tempdir
+    destination_directory = self.tempdir
     filename = os.path.join(destination_directory, target_filepath)
 
     self.switch_context()   # switch TUF context
@@ -314,8 +328,12 @@ def remove(self, configuration):
     assert configuration.hostname in self.__updaters
     assert repository_mirror_hostnames.issubset(self.__repository_mirror_hostnames)
 
+    # Get the updater.
+    updater = self.__updaters.get(configuration.hostname)
+
     # If all is well, remove the stored Updater as well as its associated
     # repository mirror hostnames.
+    updater.cleanup()
     del self.__updaters[configuration.hostname]
     self.__repository_mirror_hostnames.difference_update(repository_mirror_hostnames)
 
diff --git a/tuf/interposition/utility.py b/tuf/interposition/utility.py
index c68ad777..8e1c4cd9 100644
--- a/tuf/interposition/utility.py
+++ b/tuf/interposition/utility.py
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ class Logger(object):
   __logger = logging.getLogger("tuf.interposition")
 
 
+  @staticmethod
+  def debug(message):
+    Logger.__logger.debug(message)
+
+
   @staticmethod
   def exception(message):
     Logger.__logger.exception(message)