diff --git a/scripts/lib/install b/scripts/lib/install
index 73bbdf0555..d55856bc76 100755
--- a/scripts/lib/install
+++ b/scripts/lib/install
@@ -524,8 +524,11 @@ if has_class "zulip::app_frontend_base"; then
 fi
 
 # Set up a basic .gitconfig for the 'zulip' user
-su zulip -c "git config --global user.email $ZULIP_ADMINISTRATOR"
-su zulip -c "git config --global user.name 'Zulip Server ($EXTERNAL_HOST)'"
+(
+    cd / # Make sure the current working directory is readable by zulip
+    su zulip -c "git config --global user.email $ZULIP_ADMINISTRATOR"
+    su zulip -c "git config --global user.name 'Zulip Server ($EXTERNAL_HOST)'"
+)
 
 if [ -n "$NO_INIT_DB" ]; then
     set +x