diff --git a/utils/get-developers b/utils/get-developers
index ce882e6699..750fc556dc 100755
--- a/utils/get-developers
+++ b/utils/get-developers
@@ -24,9 +24,6 @@ def parse_args():
 
 
 def __main__():
-    devs = getdeveloperlib.parse_developers()
-    if devs is None:
-        sys.exit(1)
     args = parse_args()
 
     # Check that only one action is given
@@ -48,6 +45,14 @@ def __main__():
         print("No action specified")
         return
 
+    # getdeveloperlib expects to be executed from the toplevel buildroot
+    # directory, which is one level up from this script
+    os.chdir(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)), '..'))
+
+    devs = getdeveloperlib.parse_developers()
+    if devs is None:
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     # Handle the check action
     if args.check:
         files = getdeveloperlib.check_developers(devs)