diff --git a/bin/common b/bin/common
index 6b95956f797b..0ed22c039a6a 100755
--- a/bin/common
+++ b/bin/common
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ new_files="$(find "$ROOT/compiler" \( -iname "*.scala" -o -iname "*.java" \) -ne
 
 if [ ! -f "$version" ] || [ ! -z "$new_files" ]; then
   echo "Building Dotty..."
-  sbt "dist-bootstrapped/pack"
+  (cd $ROOT && sbt "dist-bootstrapped/pack")
 fi
 
 eval "$target" "$@"