diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index fb042d6f2..8bdcfa8fd 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@
 import sys
 import subprocess
 
-os.chdir(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+path = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+if path:
+    os.chdir(path)
 
 version = None
 try: