diff --git a/lib/internal/process/pre_execution.js b/lib/internal/process/pre_execution.js
index fc6d9ccf4f517b..ae0dd539078a24 100644
--- a/lib/internal/process/pre_execution.js
+++ b/lib/internal/process/pre_execution.js
@@ -365,6 +365,7 @@ function initializeReportSignalHandlers() {
 
 function initializeHeapSnapshotSignalHandlers() {
   const signal = getOptionValue('--heapsnapshot-signal');
+  const diagnosticDir = getOptionValue('--diagnostic-dir');
 
   if (!signal)
     return;
@@ -373,7 +374,7 @@ function initializeHeapSnapshotSignalHandlers() {
   const { writeHeapSnapshot } = require('v8');
 
   function doWriteHeapSnapshot() {
-    writeHeapSnapshot();
+    writeHeapSnapshot(diagnosticDir ? diagnosticDir + 'heapsnapshot' : null);
   }
   process.on(signal, doWriteHeapSnapshot);