diff --git a/xbps-src b/xbps-src
index b3f61d53dc4..97ca0bc5564 100755
--- a/xbps-src
+++ b/xbps-src
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@ print_cross_targets() {
 }
 
 usage() {
+    # copied from main logic because this is run before XBPS_DISTDIR is set normally
+    local _distdir="$(readlink -f "${0%/*}")"
+    if [ "${_distdir}" = "." ]; then
+        readonly XBPS_DISTDIR="$(pwd -P)"
+    else
+        readonly XBPS_DISTDIR="${_distdir}"
+    fi
     cat << _EOF
 $PROGNAME: [options] <target> [arguments]