diff --git a/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py b/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py
index 3bc5685..07ce31e 100644
--- a/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py
+++ b/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ class Stage(BaseModel):
     files: Files = Files()
     in_: str = Field("", alias="in")
     out_: str = Field("", alias="out")
+    copy_in_cwd: bool = True
     score: int = 0
     parsers: List[Parser] = []  # list of parsers
     limit: Limit = Limit()
diff --git a/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py b/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py
index d3b3825..94a83d6 100644
--- a/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py
+++ b/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ def get_executor_with(
                 # TODO: are there any corner cases?
                 for file in copy_in_files
             },
+            copy_in_dir="." if task_stage.copy_in_cwd else "",
             copy_out=copy_out_files,
             copy_in_cached={file: file for file in cached},
             copy_out_cached=file_export,
diff --git a/tests/convert/basic/task.json b/tests/convert/basic/task.json
index 78b0cb6..7256511 100644
--- a/tests/convert/basic/task.json
+++ b/tests/convert/basic/task.json
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@
                                 "h7/build/ex2-msan": "h7/build/ex2-msan",
                                 "h7/build/compile_commands.json": "h7/build/compile_commands.json"
                             },
-                            "copyInDir": ".",
+                            "copyInDir": "",
                             "copyOut": [
                                 "stdout",
                                 "stderr"
diff --git a/tests/convert/basic/task.toml b/tests/convert/basic/task.toml
index 7660b10..3a045fd 100644
--- a/tests/convert/basic/task.toml
+++ b/tests/convert/basic/task.toml
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ result-detail.mem = false
 [[stages]]
 name = "[joj] ex2-asan"
 command="./h7/build/ex2-asan -a"
+copy_in_cwd = false
 files.import = [ "h7/build/ex2-asan" ]
 limit.mem = "128m"