diff --git a/lib/package_script.c b/lib/package_script.c
index a902761b..738cc99a 100644
--- a/lib/package_script.c
+++ b/lib/package_script.c
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ xbps_pkg_exec_buffer(struct xbps_handle *xhp,
 		fpath = strdup(".xbps-script-XXXXXX");
 	}
 
+	/* change cwd to rootdir to exec the script */
+	if (chdir(xhp->rootdir) == -1) {
+		rv = errno;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	/* Create temp file to run script */
 	if ((fd = mkstemp(fpath)) == -1) {
 		xbps_dbg_printf(xhp, "%s: mkstemp %s\n",
@@ -80,12 +86,6 @@ xbps_pkg_exec_buffer(struct xbps_handle *xhp,
 	fdatasync(fd);
 	close(fd);
 
-	/* change cwd to rootdir to exec the script */
-	if (chdir(xhp->rootdir) == -1) {
-		rv = errno;
-		goto out;
-	}
-
 	/* exec script */
 	rv = xbps_file_exec(xhp, fpath, action, pkgname, version,
 			    update ? "yes" : "no",