diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in b/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in
index 1a1987718c..75f0e1ff6d 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in
@@ -37,8 +37,10 @@ set_defvars()
 	XBPS_SRCPKGDIR=$XBPS_DISTRIBUTIONDIR/srcpkgs
 	if [ -n "$IN_CHROOT" ]; then
 		XBPS_DESTDIR=/destdir
+		XBPS_BUILDDIR=/builddir
 	else
 		XBPS_DESTDIR=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/destdir
+		XBPS_BUILDDIR=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/builddir
 	fi
 	if [ -n "$XBPS_HOSTDIR" ]; then
 		XBPS_PACKAGESDIR=$XBPS_HOSTDIR/binpkgs
@@ -47,7 +49,6 @@ set_defvars()
 		XBPS_SRCDISTDIR=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/host/sources
 		XBPS_PACKAGESDIR=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/host/binpkgs
 	fi
-	XBPS_BUILDDIR=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/builddir
 	XBPS_TRIGGERSDIR=$XBPS_SRCPKGDIR/xbps-triggers/files
 
 	DDIRS="TRIGGERSDIR HELPERSDIR SRCPKGDIR COMMONVARSDIR SHUTILSDIR"