diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/update.sh b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/update.sh
index 4298daab67..aafae72407 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/update.sh
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/update.sh
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ EOS
   # only allow one instance of brew update
   lock update
 
-  chdir "$HOMEBREW_REPOSITORY"
+  safe_cd "$HOMEBREW_REPOSITORY"
   git_init_if_necessary
   # rename Taps directories
   # this procedure will be removed in the future if it seems unnecessary
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ EOS
     pull "$DIR"
   done
 
-  chdir "$HOMEBREW_REPOSITORY"
+  safe_cd "$HOMEBREW_REPOSITORY"
 
   if [[ -n "$HOMEBREW_UPDATED" ||
         -n "$HOMEBREW_UPDATE_FAILED" ||
diff --git a/Library/brew.sh b/Library/brew.sh
index 8d55601c0f..b3315a301b 100644
--- a/Library/brew.sh
+++ b/Library/brew.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ odie() {
   exit 1
 }
 
-chdir() {
+safe_cd() {
   cd "$@" >/dev/null || odie "Error: failed to cd to $*!"
 }