diff --git a/Modules/getpath.c b/Modules/getpath.c
index f28f4c6..9faafa3 100644
--- a/Modules/getpath.c
+++ b/Modules/getpath.c
@@ -232,7 +232,11 @@
     if (p[0] == SEP)
         strcpy(path, p);
     else {
-        getcwd(path, MAXPATHLEN);
+        if (!getcwd(path, MAXPATHLEN)) {
+            /* unable to get the current directory */
+            strcpy(path, p);
+            return;
+        }
         if (p[0] == '.' && p[1] == SEP)
             p += 2;
         joinpath(path, p);