diff --git a/src/calibre/ptempfile.py b/src/calibre/ptempfile.py
index 868f6dfdd7..5eea8aa9a9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ptempfile.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ptempfile.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from calibre.constants import __appname__, filesystem_encoding, get_windows_temp
 from calibre.utils.safe_atexit import remove_dir, remove_file_atexit, remove_folder_atexit, unlink
 
 _base_dir = _osx_cache_dir = None
+cleanup = unlink  # some plugins import this function
 
 
 def osx_cache_dir():