diff --git a/letsencrypt/client.py b/letsencrypt/client.py
index 0eba8349d..d7657c9b2 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/client.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/client.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class Client(object):
         # Create CSR from names
         key = crypto_util.init_save_key(
             self.config.rsa_key_size, self.config.key_dir)
-        csr = crypto_util.init_save_csr(key, domains, self.config.cert_dir)
+        csr = crypto_util.init_save_csr(key, domains, self.config.csr_dir)
 
         return self._obtain_certificate(domains, csr) + (key, csr)
 
diff --git a/letsencrypt/configuration.py b/letsencrypt/configuration.py
index ec8ddb14e..20774e5cc 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/configuration.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/configuration.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class NamespaceConfig(object):
     paths defined in :py:mod:`letsencrypt.constants`:
 
       - `accounts_dir`
-      - `cert_dir`
+      - `csr_dir`
       - `in_progress_dir`
       - `key_dir`
       - `renewer_config_file`
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ class NamespaceConfig(object):
         return os.path.join(self.namespace.work_dir, constants.BACKUP_DIR)
 
     @property
-    def cert_dir(self):  # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
-        return os.path.join(self.namespace.config_dir, constants.CERT_DIR)
+    def csr_dir(self):  # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
+        return os.path.join(self.namespace.config_dir, constants.CSR_DIR)
 
     @property
     def in_progress_dir(self):  # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
diff --git a/letsencrypt/constants.py b/letsencrypt/constants.py
index adca4ed02..762409d25 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/constants.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/constants.py
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ ACCOUNTS_DIR = "accounts"
 BACKUP_DIR = "backups"
 """Directory (relative to `IConfig.work_dir`) where backups are kept."""
 
-CERT_DIR = "certs"
-"""See `.IConfig.cert_dir`."""
+CSR_DIR = "csr"
+"""See `.IConfig.csr_dir`."""
 
 IN_PROGRESS_DIR = "IN_PROGRESS"
 """Directory used before a permanent checkpoint is finalized (relative to
diff --git a/letsencrypt/interfaces.py b/letsencrypt/interfaces.py
index 345a0d779..139e2e9f4 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/interfaces.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/interfaces.py
@@ -205,9 +205,9 @@ class IConfig(zope.interface.Interface):
     accounts_dir = zope.interface.Attribute(
         "Directory where all account information is stored.")
     backup_dir = zope.interface.Attribute("Configuration backups directory.")
-    cert_dir = zope.interface.Attribute(
+    csr_dir = zope.interface.Attribute(
         "Directory where newly generated Certificate Signing Requests "
-        "(CSRs) and certificates not enrolled in the renewer are saved.")
+        "(CSRs) are saved.")
     in_progress_dir = zope.interface.Attribute(
         "Directory used before a permanent checkpoint is finalized.")
     key_dir = zope.interface.Attribute("Keys storage.")
diff --git a/letsencrypt/tests/client_test.py b/letsencrypt/tests/client_test.py
index 93fdf2cd3..fe1cb1243 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/tests/client_test.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/tests/client_test.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class ClientTest(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_crypto_util.init_save_key.assert_called_once_with(
             self.config.rsa_key_size, self.config.key_dir)
         mock_crypto_util.init_save_csr.assert_called_once_with(
-            mock.sentinel.key, domains, self.config.cert_dir)
+            mock.sentinel.key, domains, self.config.csr_dir)
         self._check_obtain_certificate()
 
     @mock.patch("letsencrypt.client.zope.component.getUtility")
diff --git a/letsencrypt/tests/configuration_test.py b/letsencrypt/tests/configuration_test.py
index 110bfe223..546834c05 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/tests/configuration_test.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/tests/configuration_test.py
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ class NamespaceConfigTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_dynamic_dirs(self, constants):
         constants.ACCOUNTS_DIR = 'acc'
         constants.BACKUP_DIR = 'backups'
-        constants.CERT_DIR = 'certs'
+        constants.CSR_DIR = 'csr'
+
         constants.IN_PROGRESS_DIR = '../p'
         constants.KEY_DIR = 'keys'
         constants.TEMP_CHECKPOINT_DIR = 't'
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ class NamespaceConfigTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             self.config.accounts_dir, '/tmp/config/acc/acme-server.org:443/new')
         self.assertEqual(self.config.backup_dir, '/tmp/foo/backups')
-        self.assertEqual(self.config.cert_dir, '/tmp/config/certs')
+        self.assertEqual(self.config.csr_dir, '/tmp/config/csr')
         self.assertEqual(self.config.in_progress_dir, '/tmp/foo/../p')
         self.assertEqual(self.config.key_dir, '/tmp/config/keys')
         self.assertEqual(self.config.temp_checkpoint_dir, '/tmp/foo/t')