diff --git a/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py b/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py
index 3bbb19c573f..470faff3c72 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py
@@ -416,7 +416,8 @@ def test_executable_with_cwd(self):
     def test_executable_without_cwd(self):
         # For a normal installation, it should work without 'cwd'
         # argument.  For test runs in the build directory, see #7774.
-        self._assert_cwd('', "somethingyoudonthave", executable=sys.executable)
+        self._assert_cwd(os.getcwd(), "somethingyoudonthave",
+                         executable=sys.executable)
 
     def test_stdin_pipe(self):
         # stdin redirection
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 027f5a72d82..868fb9ee693 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -599,6 +599,8 @@ Library
 Tests
 -----
 
+- Issue #17046: Fix broken test_executable_without_cwd in test_subprocess.
+
 - Issue #15415: Add new temp_dir() and change_cwd() context managers to
   test.support, and refactor temp_cwd() to use them.  Patch by Chris Jerdonek.