diff --git a/qmake/generators/metamakefile.cpp b/qmake/generators/metamakefile.cpp
index 8c10d7d306..e3fa39c7e4 100644
--- a/qmake/generators/metamakefile.cpp
+++ b/qmake/generators/metamakefile.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual bool init();
     virtual int type() const { return BUILDSMETATYPE; }
-    virtual bool write(const QString &);
+    virtual bool write();
 };
 
 void
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ BuildsMetaMakefileGenerator::init()
 }
 
 bool
-BuildsMetaMakefileGenerator::write(const QString &oldpwd)
+BuildsMetaMakefileGenerator::write()
 {
     Build *glue = 0;
     if(!makefiles.isEmpty() && !makefiles.first()->build.isNull()) {
@@ -181,7 +181,6 @@ BuildsMetaMakefileGenerator::write(const QString &oldpwd)
                     if(Option::output.fileName().isEmpty() &&
                        Option::qmake_mode == Option::QMAKE_GENERATE_MAKEFILE)
                         Option::output.setFileName(project->first("QMAKE_MAKEFILE").toQString());
-                    Option::output_dir = oldpwd;
                     QString build_name = build->name;
                     if(!build->build.isEmpty()) {
                         if(!build_name.isEmpty())
@@ -268,7 +267,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual bool init();
     virtual int type() const { return SUBDIRSMETATYPE; }
-    virtual bool write(const QString &);
+    virtual bool write();
 };
 
 bool
@@ -349,7 +348,7 @@ SubdirsMetaMakefileGenerator::init()
             } else {
                 const QString output_name = Option::output.fileName();
                 Option::output.setFileName(sub->output_file);
-                hasError |= !sub->makefile->write(sub->output_dir);
+                hasError |= !sub->makefile->write();
                 delete sub;
                 qmakeClearCaches();
                 sub = 0;
@@ -378,7 +377,7 @@ SubdirsMetaMakefileGenerator::init()
 }
 
 bool
-SubdirsMetaMakefileGenerator::write(const QString &oldpwd)
+SubdirsMetaMakefileGenerator::write()
 {
     bool ret = true;
     const QString &pwd = qmake_getpwd();
@@ -397,10 +396,7 @@ SubdirsMetaMakefileGenerator::write(const QString &oldpwd)
             printf("Writing %s\n", QDir::cleanPath(Option::output_dir+"/"+
                                                    Option::output.fileName()).toLatin1().constData());
         }
-        QString writepwd = Option::fixPathToLocalOS(qmake_getpwd());
-        if(!writepwd.startsWith(Option::fixPathToLocalOS(oldpwd)))
-            writepwd = oldpwd;
-        if(!(ret = subs.at(i)->makefile->write(writepwd)))
+        if (!(ret = subs.at(i)->makefile->write()))
             break;
         //restore because I'm paranoid
         qmake_setpwd(pwd);
diff --git a/qmake/generators/metamakefile.h b/qmake/generators/metamakefile.h
index 85106a674d..aff2f422a6 100644
--- a/qmake/generators/metamakefile.h
+++ b/qmake/generators/metamakefile.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual bool init() = 0;
     virtual int type() const { return -1; }
-    virtual bool write(const QString &oldpwd) = 0;
+    virtual bool write() = 0;
 };
 
 QT_END_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/qmake/main.cpp b/qmake/main.cpp
index 5f9fb05449..e339239289 100644
--- a/qmake/main.cpp
+++ b/qmake/main.cpp
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ int runQMake(int argc, char **argv)
         if (!success)
             exit_val = 3;
 
-        if(mkfile && !mkfile->write(oldpwd)) {
+        if (mkfile && !mkfile->write()) {
             if(Option::qmake_mode == Option::QMAKE_GENERATE_PROJECT)
                 fprintf(stderr, "Unable to generate project file.\n");
             else