diff --git a/extra/io/unix/files/files.factor b/extra/io/unix/files/files.factor
index 101114ffb2..3bf0e3f897 100755
--- a/extra/io/unix/files/files.factor
+++ b/extra/io/unix/files/files.factor
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ alien ;
 IN: io.unix.files
 
 M: unix-io cwd
-    MAXPATHLEN dup <byte-array> swap getcwd
-    [ alien>char-string ] [ (io-error) ] if* ;
+    MAXPATHLEN dup <byte-array> swap
+    getcwd [ (io-error) ] unless* ;
 
 M: unix-io cd
     chdir io-error ;