diff --git a/src/main/admin/ducc_update b/src/main/admin/ducc_update
index a3b1e37..d653f05 100755
--- a/src/main/admin/ducc_update
+++ b/src/main/admin/ducc_update
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@
 # Probably OK if from admin, but to be safe ...
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-curdir = os.path.realpath(os.environ['PWD'])
+curdir = os.getcwd()
 if curdir.startswith(runtime) and curdir != runtime:
     print "ERROR - Cannot run from inside the runtime"
     exit(1)