diff --git a/lib/jsdoc/util/runtime.js b/lib/jsdoc/util/runtime.js
index 1d6db92c..678d67ab 100644
--- a/lib/jsdoc/util/runtime.js
+++ b/lib/jsdoc/util/runtime.js
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ function initializeNode(args) {
     var path = require('path');
 
     var jsdocPath = args[0];
-    var pwd = process.env.PWD || args[1];
+    var pwd = args[1];
 
     // resolve the path if it's a symlink
     if ( fs.statSync(jsdocPath).isSymbolicLink() ) {