diff --git a/src/org/python/core/PySystemState.java b/src/org/python/core/PySystemState.java
index 1fb701d..ee9b38f 100644
--- a/src/org/python/core/PySystemState.java
+++ b/src/org/python/core/PySystemState.java
@@ -1278,9 +1278,11 @@ public class PySystemState extends PyObject
         }
         cachedir = new File(props.getProperty(PYTHON_CACHEDIR, CACHEDIR_DEFAULT_NAME));
         if (!cachedir.isAbsolute()) {
-            String prefixString = props.getProperty("user.dir", "");
-            cachedir = new File(prefixString, cachedir.getPath());
-            cachedir = cachedir.getAbsoluteFile();
+            File jythondir = new File(System.getProperty("user.home"), ".jython-cache");
+            if (!jythondir.isDirectory()) {
+                jythondir.mkdirs();
+            }
+            cachedir = new File(jythondir, cachedir.getPath());
         }
         logger.log(Level.CONFIG, "cache at {0}", cachedir);
     }