diff --git a/tests/test_build_latex.py b/tests/test_build_latex.py
index 2ce63ae6a..3a31fa586 100644
--- a/tests/test_build_latex.py
+++ b/tests/test_build_latex.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from sphinx.config import Config
 from sphinx.errors import SphinxError
 from sphinx.testing.util import strip_escseq
 from sphinx.util import docutils
-from sphinx.util.osutil import ensuredir
+from sphinx.util.osutil import cd, ensuredir
 from sphinx.writers.latex import LaTeXTranslator
 
 
@@ -54,15 +54,16 @@ def kpsetest(*filenames):
 def compile_latex_document(app, filename='python.tex'):
     # now, try to run latex over it
     try:
-        ensuredir(app.config.latex_engine)
-        # keep a copy of latex file for this engine in case test fails
-        copyfile(filename, app.config.latex_engine + '/' + filename)
-        args = [app.config.latex_engine,
-                '--halt-on-error',
-                '--interaction=nonstopmode',
-                '-output-directory=%s' % app.config.latex_engine,
-                filename]
-        subprocess.run(args, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, cwd=app.outdir, check=True)
+        with cd(app.outdir):
+            ensuredir(app.config.latex_engine)
+            # keep a copy of latex file for this engine in case test fails
+            copyfile(filename, app.config.latex_engine + '/' + filename)
+            args = [app.config.latex_engine,
+                    '--halt-on-error',
+                    '--interaction=nonstopmode',
+                    '-output-directory=%s' % app.config.latex_engine,
+                    filename]
+            subprocess.run(args, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, check=True)
     except OSError:  # most likely the latex executable was not found
         raise pytest.skip.Exception
     except CalledProcessError as exc: