diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ddcc37df54b..a27af226dc0 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -35,21 +35,23 @@ import subprocess
 import shutil
 import string
 
+# If not run from node/, cd to node/.
+os.chdir(os.path.dirname(__file__) or '.')
+
 # gcc and g++ as defaults matches what GYP's Makefile generator does,
 # except on OS X.
 CC = os.environ.get('CC', 'cc' if sys.platform == 'darwin' else 'gcc')
 CXX = os.environ.get('CXX', 'c++' if sys.platform == 'darwin' else 'g++')
 
-root_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(root_dir, 'tools', 'gyp', 'pylib'))
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join('tools', 'gyp', 'pylib'))
 from gyp.common import GetFlavor
 
 # imports in tools/configure.d
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(root_dir, 'tools', 'configure.d'))
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join('tools', 'configure.d'))
 import nodedownload
 
 # imports in tools/
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(root_dir, 'tools'))
+sys.path.insert(0, 'tools')
 import getmoduleversion
 from gyp_node import run_gyp
 
@@ -432,7 +434,7 @@ intl_optgroup.add_option('--download',
 intl_optgroup.add_option('--download-path',
     action='store',
     dest='download_path',
-    default=os.path.join(root_dir, 'deps'),
+    default='deps',
     help='Download directory [default: %default]')
 
 parser.add_option_group(intl_optgroup)
@@ -1050,7 +1052,7 @@ def configure_openssl(o):
       o['defines'] += ['NODE_WITHOUT_NODE_OPTIONS']
   if options.openssl_fips:
     o['variables']['openssl_fips'] = options.openssl_fips
-    fips_dir = os.path.join(root_dir, 'deps', 'openssl', 'fips')
+    fips_dir = os.path.join('deps', 'openssl', 'fips')
     fips_ld = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(fips_dir, 'fipsld'))
     # LINK is for Makefiles, LD/LDXX is for ninja
     o['make_fips_settings'] = [
@@ -1095,7 +1097,7 @@ def configure_static(o):
 
 
 def write(filename, data):
-  filename = os.path.join(root_dir, filename)
+  filename = filename
   print('creating %s' % filename)
   f = open(filename, 'w+')
   f.write(data)
@@ -1217,7 +1219,7 @@ def configure_intl(o):
     return
 
   # this is just the 'deps' dir. Used for unpacking.
-  icu_parent_path = os.path.join(root_dir, 'deps')
+  icu_parent_path = 'deps'
 
   # The full path to the ICU source directory. Should not include './'.
   icu_full_path = 'deps/icu'