diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index 51302289093..a305fb19f11 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ USAGE="list [<options>]
 
 SUBDIRECTORY_OK=Yes
 OPTIONS_SPEC=
+START_DIR=`pwd`
 . git-sh-setup
 require_work_tree
 cd_to_toplevel
@@ -393,7 +394,7 @@ apply_stash () {
 		then
 			squelch='>/dev/null 2>&1'
 		fi
-		eval "git status $squelch" || :
+		(cd "$START_DIR" && eval "git status $squelch") || :
 	else
 		# Merge conflict; keep the exit status from merge-recursive
 		status=$?
diff --git a/t/t3903-stash.sh b/t/t3903-stash.sh
index 6fd560ccf10..f62aaf5816f 100755
--- a/t/t3903-stash.sh
+++ b/t/t3903-stash.sh
@@ -556,4 +556,23 @@ test_expect_success 'stash branch should not drop the stash if the branch exists
 	git rev-parse stash@{0} --
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'stash apply shows status same as git status (relative to current directory)' '
+	git stash clear &&
+	echo 1 >subdir/subfile1 &&
+	echo 2 >subdir/subfile2 &&
+	git add subdir/subfile1 &&
+	git commit -m subdir &&
+	(
+		cd subdir &&
+		echo x >subfile1 &&
+		echo x >../file &&
+		git status >../expect &&
+		git stash &&
+		sane_unset GIT_MERGE_VERBOSITY &&
+		git stash apply
+	) |
+	sed -e 1,2d >actual && # drop "Saved..." and "HEAD is now..."
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done