diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index d06c30710..986c93f74 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ import os
 import sys
 import subprocess
 
+os.chdir(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+
 version = None
 try:
     proc = subprocess.Popen('git show HEAD --format=%ci', shell=True,