shell-init: could not get current directory ?

[adm ipat com (Alan Mead)]

[amead myhost amead]$ su root
Password:
[root myhost amead]# su news
shell-init: could not get current directory:
[root myhost amead]#

What does this mean "could not get current directory" (other than I
need to change directories before I su)?

-Alan Mead