diff --git a/libc/kernel/tools/clean_header.py b/libc/kernel/tools/clean_header.py
index 88b2ae008..92a213920 100755
--- a/libc/kernel/tools/clean_header.py
+++ b/libc/kernel/tools/clean_header.py
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         usage()
 
     no_update = True
-    dst_dir = get_kernel_dir()
-    src_dir = get_kernel_headers_original_dir()
+    dst_dir = None
+    src_dir = None
     for opt, arg in optlist:
         if opt == '-u':
             no_update = False
@@ -163,6 +163,15 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             src_dir = arg
         elif opt == '-d':
             dst_dir = arg
+    # get_kernel_dir() and get_kernel_headers_original_dir() require the current
+    # working directory to be a direct or indirect subdirectory of
+    # ANDROID_BUILD_TOP.  Otherwise, these functions print an error message and
+    # exit.  Let's allow the user to run this program from an unrelated
+    # directory, if they specify src_dir and dst_dir on the command line.
+    if dst_dir is None:
+      dst_dir = get_kernel_dir()
+    if src_dir is None:
+      src_dir = get_kernel_headers_original_dir()
 
     if len(args) == 0:
         usage()