diff --git a/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp b/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
index eecf2a58e3..e95c41432c 100644
--- a/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
+++ b/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
@@ -622,6 +622,8 @@ void LammpsGui::open_file(const QString &fileName)
     lammps.close();
 }
 
+// write file and update CWD to its folder
+
 void LammpsGui::write_file(const QString &fileName)
 {
     QFileInfo path(fileName);
@@ -634,6 +636,7 @@ void LammpsGui::write_file(const QString &fileName)
         return;
     }
     setWindowTitle(QString("LAMMPS-GUI - " + current_file));
+    QDir::setCurrent(current_dir);
 
     update_recents(path.absoluteFilePath());