diff --git a/src/xschem.tcl b/src/xschem.tcl
index 0ebe7183..2ed98015 100644
--- a/src/xschem.tcl
+++ b/src/xschem.tcl
@@ -5871,8 +5871,16 @@ proc try_download_url {dirname sch_or_sym} {
 # Example: rel_sym_path /home/schippes/share/xschem/xschem_library/devices/iopin.sym
 #          devices/iopin.sym
 proc rel_sym_path {symbol} {
-  global OS pathlist
-  set curr_dirname [xschem get current_dirname]
+  global OS pathlist use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname
+
+  if { $use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname != 1} {
+    #### consider as current directory the directory of currently loaded schematic ...
+    set curr_dirname [xschem get current_dirname]
+  } else {
+    #### .... or just use pwd.
+    set curr_dirname [pwd]
+  }
+
   set name {}
   foreach path_elem $pathlist {
     if { ![string compare $path_elem .]  && [info exist curr_dirname]} {
@@ -5905,8 +5913,14 @@ proc rel_sym_path {symbol} {
 # Example: % abs_sym_path devices/iopin.sch
 #          /home/schippes/share/xschem/xschem_library/devices/iopin.sym
 proc abs_sym_path {fname {ext {} } } {
-  global pathlist OS
-  set  curr_dirname [xschem get current_dirname]
+  global pathlist OS use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname
+  if { $use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname != 1} {
+    #### consider as current directory the directory of currently loaded schematic ...
+    set curr_dirname [xschem get current_dirname]
+  } else {
+    #### .... or just use pwd.
+    set curr_dirname [pwd]
+  }
   ## empty: do nothing
   if {$fname eq {} } return {}
   ## add extension for 1.0 file format compatibility
@@ -5969,6 +5983,7 @@ proc abs_sym_path {fname {ext {} } } {
   set name {}
   foreach path_elem $pathlist {
     ## in xschem a . in pathlist means the directory of currently loaded  schematic/symbol
+    ## or [pwd] if use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname is set to 1
     if { ![string compare $path_elem .]  && [info exist curr_dirname]} {
       set path_elem $curr_dirname
     }
@@ -6943,7 +6958,7 @@ set tctx::global_list {
   text_replace_selection text_tabs_setting textwindow_fileid textwindow_filename textwindow_w
   toolbar_horiz toolbar_list
   toolbar_visible transparent_svg undo_type use_lab_wire unselect_partial_sel_wires
-  use_label_prefix use_tclreadline
+  use_label_prefix use_tclreadline use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname
   user_wants_copy_cell verilog_2001 verilog_bitblast viewdata_fileid viewdata_filename viewdata_w
   tctx::vsize xschem_libs xschem_listen_port zoom_full_center
 }
@@ -8343,6 +8358,9 @@ set_ne spiceprefix 1
 set_ne verilog_2001 1
 set_ne verilog_bitblast 0
 set_ne search_schematic 0
+# if set to 1 search symbols (if not in any of the XSCHEM_LIBRARY_PATH directories) in [pwd] 
+# instead of in the directory of currently loaded schematic.
+set_ne use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname 0
 set_ne split_files 0
 set_ne flat_netlist 0
 set_ne netlist_show 0
diff --git a/src/xschemrc b/src/xschemrc
index 8c1c7aab..7a434810 100644
--- a/src/xschemrc
+++ b/src/xschemrc
@@ -263,6 +263,12 @@
 #### instead of looking only in symbol directory. Default: disabled (0).
 # set search_schematic 0
 
+#### if set to 1 search symbols (if not in any of the XSCHEM_LIBRARY_PATH directories)
+#### in [pwd] instead of in the directory of currently loaded schematic.
+#### default: not set (0)
+# set_ne use_pwd_instead_of_current_dirname 0
+
+
 #### keep symbols encountered while netlisting / descending the hierarchy.
 #### Default: not enabled (0)
 # set keep_symbols 0