diff --git a/scripts/build_api.py b/scripts/build_api.py
index 99cf69b..eedc103 100644
--- a/scripts/build_api.py
+++ b/scripts/build_api.py
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
       if isinstance(field, common_pb2.Chroot):
         chroot_field_name = descriptor.name
         chroot = field
-        chroot_path = chroot.path
+        chroot_path = chroot.path or chroot_path
         chroot_args.extend(self._GetChrootArgs(chroot))
         break