diff --git a/nscd/nscd.c b/nscd/nscd.c
index 7dd9cb7722..a7aa964804 100644
--- a/nscd/nscd.c
+++ b/nscd/nscd.c
@@ -240,7 +240,9 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
       setsid ();
 
-      chdir ("/");
+      if (chdir ("/") != 0)
+	error (EXIT_FAILURE, errno,
+	       _("cannot change current working cirectory to \"/\""));
 
       openlog ("nscd", LOG_CONS | LOG_ODELAY, LOG_DAEMON);