diff --git a/worddiv b/worddiv
index c63ed8b..21778eb 100755
--- a/worddiv
+++ b/worddiv
@@ -57,11 +57,11 @@ until test "$expression" = "q" ; do
 	   sed "s/expression/$expression/g" > $tmpdir/$secondary_filename
 
        # american
-       babel_output=$(latex -draftmode $tmpdir/$expression_filename | 
+       babel_output=$(cd $tmpdir && latex -draftmode $tmpdir/$expression_filename | 
 			  grep "\\[\\] .OT1" |  sed -E "s/.* ([-a-z]*)$/\1/")
 
        # british
-       babel_output_secondary=$(latex -draftmode $tmpdir/$secondary_filename | 
+       babel_output_secondary=$(cd $tmpdir && latex -draftmode $tmpdir/$secondary_filename | 
 				  grep "\\[\\] .OT1" | sed -E "s/.* ([-a-z]*)$/\1/")
 
        ## tex+showhyphens