diff --git a/server/preview_server.py b/server/preview_server.py
index d4f666f..1461a5f 100755
--- a/server/preview_server.py
+++ b/server/preview_server.py
@@ -144,6 +144,10 @@ def main():
     parser.add_option('--pid', dest='pid')
     options, args = parser.parse_args()
 
+    # force current directory to match the script, to make sure it finds the
+    # various tools (legi2pdf & odf2legi)
+    os.chdir(os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
+
     if not os.path.exists('../legi2pdf/script/db2pdf.py'):
         print >> sys.stderr, 'W: legi2pdf not found'