diff --git a/src/cli.rs b/src/cli.rs
index 6ba5502..0cff35a 100644
--- a/src/cli.rs
+++ b/src/cli.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pub struct Cli {
 impl Cli {
     pub fn basedir(&self) -> PathBuf {
         if let Some(basedir) = &self.basedir {
-            PathBuf::from(basedir)
+            PathBuf::from(basedir).canonicalize().expect("failed to expand relative path")
         } else {
             let mut home_path = PathBuf::from(env::var("HOME").expect("No $HOME in env"));
             home_path.push(".forgebuild");