diff --git a/files/file b/files/file
index bef175873e7..4b59b652c7d 100644
--- a/files/file
+++ b/files/file
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ def main():
             original_basename = dict(required=False), # Internal use only, for recursive ops
             recurse  = dict(default='no', type='bool'),
             force = dict(required=False,default=False,type='bool'),
+            chdir = dict(required=False,default=False),
             diff_peek = dict(default=None),
             validate = dict(required=False, default=None),
         ),
@@ -159,8 +160,16 @@ def main():
     params = module.params
     state  = params['state']
     force = params['force']
+
+    params['chdir'] = chdir = os.path.expanduser(params['chdir'])
     params['path'] = path = os.path.expanduser(params['path'])
 
+    if state == 'link' and chdir is not None and os.isdir(chdir):
+        os.chdir(chdir)
+        # catch exception permission deny, no directory, etc
+        # save current working directory, chdir to it at the end of the module
+        # or before any escape
+
     # short-circuit for diff_peek
     if params.get('diff_peek', None) is not None:
         appears_binary = False