weird initdb output

I wrote a script that creates a new database from an existing backup.
Works great on my machine.  Another user tries to use it and sees the
following output from initdb:

could not change directory to "/root"
The files belonging to this database system will be owned by user
"postgres".
This user must also own the server process.
.
.

Why is it trying to change directory to /root???  Running as the
postgres user.

Any assistance would be appreciated.
--
Until later, Geoffrey

"I predict future happiness for America if they can prevent
the government from wasting the labors of the people under
the pretense of taking care of them."
- Thomas Jefferson