diff --git a/platform/default/application_root.cpp b/platform/default/application_root.cpp
index e6f73e021..f25a44d46 100644
--- a/platform/default/application_root.cpp
+++ b/platform/default/application_root.cpp
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@
 namespace mbgl {
 namespace platform {
 
-// Returns the path to the default cache database on this system.
+// Returns the path the application root.
 std::string applicationRoot() {
-    return uv::cwd();
+    static const std::string root = uv::cwd();
+    return root;
 }
 
 }