diff --git a/.changeset/default-basedir-to-cwd.md b/.changeset/default-basedir-to-cwd.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f09e804
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/default-basedir-to-cwd.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+---
+"@maastrich/hashup": minor
+---
+
+Default `baseDir` is now the current working directory, not the
+config file's directory.
+
+Globs and relative entry paths in `hashup.json` anchor at `cwd` unless
+an explicit `baseDir` is set (top-level or per-entry). Running
+`hashup --cwd ./pkg` or `cd pkg && hashup` both resolve `src/**/*.ts`
+against `./pkg/`, which is what most users expect when invoking from
+a subdirectory.
+
+**To keep the old config-relative behavior**, add `"baseDir": "."` to
+`hashup.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "baseDir": ".",
+  "entries": { "app": { "entry": "src/**/*.ts" } }
+}
+```
+
+Explicit `baseDir` values (top-level or per-entry) still resolve
+against the config file's directory. The CLI `--base-dir` flag still
+resolves against the real cwd and wins over both.
diff --git a/docs/guide/cli.md b/docs/guide/cli.md
index 5e33526..4f45666 100644
--- a/docs/guide/cli.md
+++ b/docs/guide/cli.md
@@ -101,9 +101,15 @@ interface HashupConfig {
 
 Resolution rules:
 
-- Relative paths in the config resolve against the config file's directory,
-  unless a `baseDir` is set (top-level or per-entry).
-- `--base-dir` on the command line overrides both.
+- Globs and relative entry paths resolve against the current working
+  directory by default. `hashup --cwd ./pkg` or `cd pkg && hashup` both
+  anchor the run at `./pkg/`.
+- An explicit `baseDir` in `hashup.json` (top-level or per-entry) is
+  resolved against the **config file's directory**, so
+  `"baseDir": "."` pins the run to wherever the config lives regardless
+  of where you invoke from.
+- `--base-dir` on the command line wins over both and is resolved
+  against the current working directory.
 - Entry names must be unique (it's a record). Output order matches insertion
   order in the JSON file.
 
diff --git a/src/cli/run-config-mode.ts b/src/cli/run-config-mode.ts
index 5553926..8911945 100644
--- a/src/cli/run-config-mode.ts
+++ b/src/cli/run-config-mode.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,12 @@ function resolveRootBase({ cwd, configDir, override, fromFile }: ResolveRootBase
   if (fromFile !== undefined) {
     return resolveFrom(configDir, fromFile);
   }
-  return configDir;
+  // Default to the current working directory, not the config's
+  // directory. Running `hashup --cwd ./pkg` or `cd pkg && hashup`
+  // resolves globs against the invocation point, which is what most
+  // users expect; to get the old config-relative behavior, set
+  // `"baseDir": "."` in `hashup.json`.
+  return cwd;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/tests/cli/run-modes.test.ts b/tests/cli/run-modes.test.ts
index 4278d3c..09eb1c7 100644
--- a/tests/cli/run-modes.test.ts
+++ b/tests/cli/run-modes.test.ts
@@ -224,6 +224,68 @@ describe("runConfigMode", () => {
     expect(third.ok && third.output).not.toBe(first.ok && first.output);
   });
 
+  test("default baseDir is cwd, not the config's directory", async () => {
+    // Layout:
+    //   workDir/
+    //     src/a.ts              (the "cwd" version)
+    //     pkg/hashup.json       (globs src/**/*.ts)
+    //     pkg/src/a.ts          (the "configDir" version)
+    // Running with cwd=workDir and -c pkg/hashup.json, the default
+    // baseDir should now be workDir, so the glob matches workDir/src/a.ts.
+    await mkdir(join(workDir, "pkg", "src"), { recursive: true });
+    await writeFile(
+      join(workDir, "pkg", "src", "a.ts"),
+      "export const fromPkg = true;\n", // distinct content from workDir/src/a.ts
+    );
+    await writeFile(
+      join(workDir, "pkg", "hashup.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ entries: { a: { entry: "src/**/*.ts" } } }),
+    );
+
+    const cwdRun = await runConfigMode({
+      cwd: workDir,
+      configPath: "pkg/hashup.json",
+      baseDirOverride: undefined,
+      json: true,
+      files: true,
+    });
+    expect(cwdRun.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (cwdRun.ok) {
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(cwdRun.output);
+      // Default baseDir is cwd (workDir) → matches workDir/src/a.ts,
+      // NOT workDir/pkg/src/a.ts
+      expect(parsed.a.files).toEqual(
+        expect.arrayContaining([expect.stringContaining(`${workDir}/src/a.ts`)]),
+      );
+      expect(parsed.a.files).not.toContain(`${workDir}/pkg/src/a.ts`);
+    }
+  });
+
+  test('config-relative behavior is still reachable via baseDir: "."', async () => {
+    await mkdir(join(workDir, "pkg", "src"), { recursive: true });
+    await writeFile(join(workDir, "pkg", "src", "a.ts"), "export const fromPkg = true;\n");
+    await writeFile(
+      join(workDir, "pkg", "hashup.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ baseDir: ".", entries: { a: { entry: "src/**/*.ts" } } }),
+    );
+
+    const result = await runConfigMode({
+      cwd: workDir,
+      configPath: "pkg/hashup.json",
+      baseDirOverride: undefined,
+      json: true,
+      files: true,
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (result.ok) {
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(result.output);
+      // baseDir: "." resolves against configDir → pkg/src/a.ts
+      expect(parsed.a.files).toEqual(
+        expect.arrayContaining([expect.stringContaining(`${workDir}/pkg/src/a.ts`)]),
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
   test("zero-match glob emits <no-hash> and does not abort other entries", async () => {
     await writeConfigFile({
       entries: {