diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c3565fc0f8..8c000ba48b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -711,6 +711,7 @@ TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-example-decorate.o
 TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-fast-rebase.o
 TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-genrandom.o
 TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-genzeros.o
+TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-getcwd.o
 TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-hash-speed.o
 TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-hash.o
 TEST_BUILTINS_OBJS += test-hashmap.o
diff --git a/t/helper/test-getcwd.c b/t/helper/test-getcwd.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d680038a78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/helper/test-getcwd.c
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#include "test-tool.h"
+#include "git-compat-util.h"
+#include "parse-options.h"
+
+static const char *getcwd_usage[] = {
+	"test-tool getcwd",
+	NULL
+};
+
+int cmd__getcwd(int argc, const char **argv)
+{
+	struct option options[] = {
+		OPT_END()
+	};
+	char *cwd;
+
+	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, "test-tools", options, getcwd_usage, 0);
+	if (argc > 0)
+		usage_with_options(getcwd_usage, options);
+
+	cwd = xgetcwd();
+	puts(cwd);
+	free(cwd);
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/t/helper/test-tool.c b/t/helper/test-tool.c
index c5bd0c6d4c..3c13cb19b5 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-tool.c
+++ b/t/helper/test-tool.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ static struct test_cmd cmds[] = {
 	{ "fast-rebase", cmd__fast_rebase },
 	{ "genrandom", cmd__genrandom },
 	{ "genzeros", cmd__genzeros },
+	{ "getcwd", cmd__getcwd },
 	{ "hashmap", cmd__hashmap },
 	{ "hash-speed", cmd__hash_speed },
 	{ "index-version", cmd__index_version },
diff --git a/t/helper/test-tool.h b/t/helper/test-tool.h
index e8069a3b22..e691a4d9e9 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-tool.h
+++ b/t/helper/test-tool.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ int cmd__example_decorate(int argc, const char **argv);
 int cmd__fast_rebase(int argc, const char **argv);
 int cmd__genrandom(int argc, const char **argv);
 int cmd__genzeros(int argc, const char **argv);
+int cmd__getcwd(int argc, const char **argv);
 int cmd__hashmap(int argc, const char **argv);
 int cmd__hash_speed(int argc, const char **argv);
 int cmd__index_version(int argc, const char **argv);
diff --git a/t/t0001-init.sh b/t/t0001-init.sh
index acd662e403..df544bb321 100755
--- a/t/t0001-init.sh
+++ b/t/t0001-init.sh
@@ -356,7 +356,10 @@ test_lazy_prereq GETCWD_IGNORES_PERMS '
 	chmod 100 $base ||
 	BUG "cannot prepare $base"
 
-	(cd $base/dir && /bin/pwd -P)
+	(
+		cd $base/dir &&
+		test-tool getcwd
+	)
 	status=$?
 
 	chmod 700 $base &&