--- a/install-xattr.c	2023-11-22 10:58:56.932889899 +0100
+++ b/install-xattr.c	2023-11-22 11:00:54.285758674 +0100
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	char *portage_helper_path = getenv("__PORTAGE_HELPER_PATH");
 	char *portage_helper_canpath = NULL;
 	if (portage_helper_path)
-		if (chdir(oldpwd) != 0)
+		if (!oldpwd || chdir(oldpwd) != 0)
 			err(1, "failed to chdir %s", oldpwd);
 
 	switch (fork()) {