diff --git a/cdist/exec/local.py b/cdist/exec/local.py
index c0554831..64593235 100644
--- a/cdist/exec/local.py
+++ b/cdist/exec/local.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import subprocess
 import shutil
 import logging
 import tempfile
+import hashlib
 
 import cdist
 import cdist.message
@@ -55,8 +56,10 @@ class Local(object):
             base_path_parent = base_path
         else:
             base_path_parent = tempfile.mkdtemp()
-            import atexit
-            atexit.register(lambda: shutil.rmtree(base_path_parent))
+            # TODO: the below atexit hook nukes any debug info we would have
+            #  if cdist exits with error.
+            #import atexit
+            #atexit.register(lambda: shutil.rmtree(base_path_parent))
         self.hostdir = self._hostdir()
         self.base_path = os.path.join(base_path_parent, self.hostdir)
 
@@ -89,11 +92,9 @@ class Local(object):
             return None
 
     def _hostdir(self):
-        if os.path.isabs(self.target_host):
-            hostdir = self.target_host[1:]
-        else:
-            hostdir = self.target_host
-        return hostdir
+        # Do not assume target_host is anything that can be used as a directory name.
+        # Instead use a hash, which is know to work as directory name.
+        return hashlib.md5(self.target_host.encode('utf-8')).hexdigest()
 
     def _init_log(self):
         self.log = logging.getLogger(self.target_host)
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ class Local(object):
 
 
     def save_cache(self):
-        destination = os.path.join(self.cache_path, self.hostdir)
+        destination = os.path.join(self.cache_path, self.target_host)
         self.log.debug("Saving " + self.base_path + " to " + destination)
 
         try: