diff --git a/etc/systemd/system-generators/zfs-mount-generator.in b/etc/systemd/system-generators/zfs-mount-generator.in
index 850396fb6..066896009 100755
--- a/etc/systemd/system-generators/zfs-mount-generator.in
+++ b/etc/systemd/system-generators/zfs-mount-generator.in
@@ -104,8 +104,13 @@ process_line() {
       fi
 
       # Generate the key-load .service unit
-      cat > "${dest_norm}/${keyloadunit}" << EOF
-# Automatically generated by zfs-mount-generator
+      #
+      # Note: It is tempting to use a `<<EOF` style here-document for this, but
+      #   bash requires a writable /tmp or $TMPDIR for that. This is not always
+      #   available early during boot.
+      #
+      echo \
+"# Automatically generated by zfs-mount-generator
 
 [Unit]
 Description=Load ZFS key for ${dataset}
@@ -120,8 +125,7 @@ ${pathdep}
 Type=oneshot
 RemainAfterExit=yes
 ExecStart=${keyloadcmd}
-ExecStop=@sbindir@/zfs unload-key '${dataset}'
-EOF
+ExecStop=@sbindir@/zfs unload-key '${dataset}'"   > "${dest_norm}/${keyloadunit}"
     fi
     # Update the dependencies for the mount file to require the
     # key-loading unit.
@@ -235,8 +239,11 @@ EOF
 
   # Create the .mount unit file.
   # By ordering before zfs-mount.service, we avoid race conditions.
-  cat > "${dest_norm}/${mountfile}" << EOF
-# Automatically generated by zfs-mount-generator
+  #
+  # (Do not use `<<EOF`-style here-documents for this, see warning above)
+  #
+  echo \
+"# Automatically generated by zfs-mount-generator
 
 [Unit]
 SourcePath=${cachefile}
@@ -249,8 +256,7 @@ Wants=${wants}
 Where=${p_mountpoint}
 What=${dataset}
 Type=zfs
-Options=defaults${opts},zfsutil
-EOF
+Options=defaults${opts},zfsutil" > "${dest_norm}/${mountfile}"
 
   # Finally, create the appropriate dependency
   ln -s "../${mountfile}" "${req_dir}"