diff --git a/unzip_requirements.py b/unzip_requirements.py
index 4e3b9e51..9ba3ad54 100644
--- a/unzip_requirements.py
+++ b/unzip_requirements.py
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@
     if os.path.exists(tempdir):
         shutil.rmtree(tempdir)
 
-    zip_requirements = os.path.join(
-        os.environ.get('LAMBDA_TASK_ROOT', os.getcwd()), '.requirements.zip')
+    default_lambda_task_root = os.environ.get('LAMBDA_TASK_ROOT', os.getcwd())
+    lambda_task_root = os.getcwd() if os.environ.get('IS_LOCAL') == 'true' else default_lambda_task_root
+    zip_requirements = os.path.join(lambda_task_root, '.requirements.zip')
 
     zipfile.ZipFile(zip_requirements, 'r').extractall(tempdir)
     os.rename(tempdir, pkgdir)  # Atomic