diff --git a/vim/config/plugins/vim-easytags.vim b/vim/config/plugins/vim-easytags.vim
index 6c5e526..7cd66a2 100644
--- a/vim/config/plugins/vim-easytags.vim
+++ b/vim/config/plugins/vim-easytags.vim
@@ -1,9 +1,16 @@
 let g:easytags_suppress_ctags_warning = 1
 
+"set the temporary directory for ctags
+if isdirectory(glob("/tmp"))
+    let $TMPDIR = '/tmp'
+endif
+
+"put general tags in ~/.vim/tags
 if filereadable(glob("~/.vim/tags"))
     let g:easytags_file = '~/.vim/tags'
 endif
 
+"put filetype-specific tags in ~/.vim/tags_by_filetype/
 if isdirectory(glob("~/.vim/tags_by_filetype"))
     let g:easytags_by_filetype = '~/.vim/tags_by_filetype'
 endif