diff --git a/packages/babel-core/src/config/config-chain.js b/packages/babel-core/src/config/config-chain.js
index 60e062d3f8..3316ce1c3b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-core/src/config/config-chain.js
+++ b/packages/babel-core/src/config/config-chain.js
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ const loadPresetOverridesEnvDescriptors = makeWeakCache(
  * Build a config chain for Babel's full root configuration.
  */
 export function buildRootChain(
-  cwd: string,
   opts: ValidatedOptions,
   context: ConfigContext,
 ): ConfigChain | null {
diff --git a/packages/babel-core/src/config/index.js b/packages/babel-core/src/config/index.js
index 6a770e5aca..ef5d5c4a66 100644
--- a/packages/babel-core/src/config/index.js
+++ b/packages/babel-core/src/config/index.js
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export default function loadConfig(inputOpts: mixed): ResolvedConfig | null {
     envName,
   };
 
-  const configChain = buildRootChain(absoluteCwd, args, context);
+  const configChain = buildRootChain(args, context);
   if (!configChain) return null;
 
   const optionDefaults = {};