diff --git a/ietf/checks.py b/ietf/checks.py
index 183f5b827..4697195ec 100644
--- a/ietf/checks.py
+++ b/ietf/checks.py
@@ -358,23 +358,21 @@ def maybe_patch_library(app_configs, **kwargs):
     import os, django
     django_path = os.path.dirname(django.__file__)
     library_path = os.path.dirname(django_path)
-    saved_cwd = os.getcwd()
+    cwd = os.getcwd()
     # All patches in settings.CHECKS_LIBRARY_PATCHES_TO_APPLY must have a
     # relative file path rooted in the django dir, for instance
     # 'django/db/models/fields/__init__.py'
     for patch_file in settings.CHECKS_LIBRARY_PATCHES_TO_APPLY:
         try:
-            patch_path = os.path.join(saved_cwd, patch_file)
+            patch_path = os.path.join(cwd, patch_file)
             patch_set = patch.fromfile(patch_path)
             if patch_set:
-                os.chdir(library_path)
-                if not patch_set.apply():
+                if not patch_set.apply(root=library_path):
                     errors.append(checks.Warning(
                         "Could not apply patch from file '%s'"%patch_file,
                         hint="Make sure that the patch file contains a unified diff and has valid file paths",
                         id="datatracker.W0002",
                         ))
-                os.chdir(saved_cwd)
             else:
                 errors.append(checks.Warning(
                     "Could not parse patch file '%s'"%patch_file,