diff --git a/platformio/commands/debug.py b/platformio/commands/debug.py
index e176bab3..46d26d89 100644
--- a/platformio/commands/debug.py
+++ b/platformio/commands/debug.py
@@ -82,9 +82,10 @@ def cli(ctx, project_dir, project_conf, environment, verbose, interface, __unpro
     if "platform" not in env_options:
         raise ProjectEnvsNotAvailableError()
 
-    debug_config = DebugConfigFactory.new(
-        init_platform(env_options["platform"]), project_config, env_name
-    )
+    with fs.cd(project_dir):
+        debug_config = DebugConfigFactory.new(
+            init_platform(env_options["platform"]), project_config, env_name
+        )
 
     if "--version" in __unprocessed:
         return subprocess.run(
diff --git a/platformio/debug/config/base.py b/platformio/debug/config/base.py
index 53abadc9..019f9edb 100644
--- a/platformio/debug/config/base.py
+++ b/platformio/debug/config/base.py
@@ -146,9 +146,7 @@ class DebugConfigBase:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
         )
 
     def _load_build_data(self):
-        data = load_project_ide_data(
-            os.path.dirname(self.project_config.path), self.env_name, cache=True
-        )
+        data = load_project_ide_data(os.getcwd(), self.env_name, cache=True)
         if data:
             return data
         raise DebugInvalidOptionsError("Could not load a build configuration")
diff --git a/platformio/debug/helpers.py b/platformio/debug/helpers.py
index d2d2716c..6b4d4278 100644
--- a/platformio/debug/helpers.py
+++ b/platformio/debug/helpers.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ def predebug_project(
         ctx.invoke(
             cmd_run,
             project_dir=project_dir,
+            project_conf=project_config.path,
             environment=[env_name],
             target=["__debug"] + (["upload"] if preload else []),
             verbose=verbose,
diff --git a/platformio/project/config.py b/platformio/project/config.py
index dd75f701..6c5aa7b1 100644
--- a/platformio/project/config.py
+++ b/platformio/project/config.py
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ class ProjectConfigDirsMixin(object):
         if result is None:
             return None
 
-        project_dir = os.path.dirname(self.path)
+        project_dir = os.getcwd()
 
         # patterns
         if "$PROJECT_HASH" in result: