diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index d705a0cd2..0ae894a8c 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -650,13 +650,16 @@ def getGitCommit() {
 	def dotGit = new File("$projectDir/.git")
 	if (!dotGit.isDirectory()) return 'non-git build'
 
+	def projectDir = dotGit.getParentFile()
 	def cmd = 'git describe --always --tags --dirty=+'
-	def proc = cmd.execute()
+	def proc = cmd.execute(null, projectDir)
+	proc.waitForOrKill(10 * 1000)
+
 	def gitCommit = proc.text.trim()
 	assert !gitCommit.isEmpty()
 
     def srCmd = 'git symbolic-ref --short HEAD'
-    def srProc = srCmd.execute()
+    def srProc = srCmd.execute(null, projectDir)
     srProc.waitForOrKill(10 * 1000)
     if (srProc.exitValue() == 0) {
         // Only add the information if the git command was