diff --git a/plugins/modules/sysctl.py b/plugins/modules/sysctl.py
index 723d315..c016d09 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/sysctl.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/sysctl.py
@@ -386,27 +386,15 @@ class SysctlModule(object):
     # Completely rewrite the sysctl file
     def write_sysctl(self):
         # open a tmp file
-        if self.system_Wide:
-            sysctl_files_dir = '/etc/sysctl.d/'
-            fd, tmp_path = tempfile.mkstemp('.conf', '.ansible_m_sysctl_', sysctl_files_dir)
-            os.close(fd=fd)
-        else:
-            fd, tmp_path = tempfile.mkstemp(dir=os.path.dirname(self.sysctl_file))
-            os.close(fd)
-        
+        fd, tmp_path = tempfile.mkstemp('.conf', '.ansible_m_sysctl_', os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(self.sysctl_file)))
+        f = open(tmp_path, "w")
         try:
-            with open(tmp_path, 'w') as write_file:
-                for line in self.fixed_lines:
-                    write_file.write("%s\n" % line)
-            os.rename(tmp_path, self.sysctl_file)
+            for l in self.fixed_lines:
+                f.write(l.strip() + "\n")
         except IOError as e:
-            self.module.fail_json(msg="Failed to write %s: %s" % (to_native(tmp_path), to_native(e)))
-        finally:
-            try:
-                os.remove(tmp_path)
-            except OSError:
-                pass
-
+            self.module.fail_json(msg="Failed to write to file %s: %s" % (tmp_path, to_native(e)))
+        f.flush()
+        f.close()
 
         # replace the real one
         self.module.atomic_move(tmp_path, os.path.realpath(self.sysctl_file))