diff --git a/src/dirlist.c b/src/dirlist.c
index 876550369ebc7df1a1b6b93d812d96e58c591e08..b26ba8440811dc69935b7cd3b2e672faf6afa389 100644
--- a/src/dirlist.c
+++ b/src/dirlist.c
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ void dirlist_open(struct dir *d) {
 
   /* not necessary for any ncdu functionality,
    * but enables screen/tmux to work out our cwd */
-  chdir(getpath(dirlist_par));
+  if(!dir_import_active)
+    path_chdir(getpath(dirlist_par));
 
   /* set the head of the list */
   head_real = head = d == NULL ? NULL : d->sub;