diff --git a/src/evalfunc.c b/src/evalfunc.c
index a19f706..632b982 100644
--- a/src/evalfunc.c
+++ b/src/evalfunc.c
@@ -4613,16 +4613,21 @@
 {
     win_T	*wp = NULL;
     char_u	*cwd;
+    int		global = FALSE;
 
     rettv->v_type = VAR_STRING;
     rettv->vval.v_string = NULL;
 
-    wp = find_tabwin(&argvars[0], &argvars[1]);
-    if (wp != NULL)
+    if (argvars[0].v_type == VAR_NUMBER && argvars[0].vval.v_number == -1)
+	global = TRUE;
+    else
+	wp = find_tabwin(&argvars[0], &argvars[1]);
+
+    if (wp != NULL && wp->w_localdir != NULL)
+	rettv->vval.v_string = vim_strsave(wp->w_localdir);
+    else if (wp != NULL || global)
     {
-	if (wp->w_localdir != NULL)
-	    rettv->vval.v_string = vim_strsave(wp->w_localdir);
-	else if (globaldir != NULL)
+	if (globaldir != NULL)
 	    rettv->vval.v_string = vim_strsave(globaldir);
 	else
 	{