diff --git a/py/makeversionhdr.py b/py/makeversionhdr.py
index aedc292e4..d51167974 100644
--- a/py/makeversionhdr.py
+++ b/py/makeversionhdr.py
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ def get_version_info_from_git():
     except AttributeError:
         return None
 
+    cwd = os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])
+
     # Note: git describe doesn't work if no tag is available
     try:
-        git_tag = subprocess.check_output(["git", "describe", "--dirty", "--always"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, universal_newlines=True).strip()
+        git_tag = subprocess.check_output(["git", "describe", "--dirty", "--always"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, universal_newlines=True, cwd=cwd).strip()
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as er:
         if er.returncode == 128:
             # git exit code of 128 means no repository found
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ def get_version_info_from_git():
     except OSError:
         return None
     try:
-        git_hash = subprocess.check_output(["git", "rev-parse", "--short", "HEAD"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, universal_newlines=True).strip()
+        git_hash = subprocess.check_output(["git", "rev-parse", "--short", "HEAD"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, universal_newlines=True, cwd=cwd).strip()
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
         git_hash = "unknown"
     except OSError:
@@ -38,9 +40,9 @@ def get_version_info_from_git():
 
     try:
         # Check if there are any modified files.
-        subprocess.check_call(["git", "diff", "--no-ext-diff", "--quiet", "--exit-code"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+        subprocess.check_call(["git", "diff", "--no-ext-diff", "--quiet", "--exit-code"], cwd=cwd, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
         # Check if there are any staged files.
-        subprocess.check_call(["git", "diff-index", "--cached", "--quiet", "HEAD", "--"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+        subprocess.check_call(["git", "diff-index", "--cached", "--quiet", "HEAD", "--"], cwd=cwd, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
         git_hash += "-dirty"
     except OSError: