diff --git a/swash/processing/read_swash.py b/swash/processing/read_swash.py
index 74b9aea..26a3014 100644
--- a/swash/processing/read_swash.py
+++ b/swash/processing/read_swash.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class ReadSwash:
 
     @classmethod
     def read_nohead(cls, path):
-        with tempfile.TemporaryFile() as tmpfile:
+        with tempfile.SpooledTemporaryFile() as tmpfile:
             with open(path) as file:
                 subprocess.run(("tr", "-d", "\n"), stdin=file, stdout=tmpfile)
             tmpfile.seek(0)