diff --git a/src/init.c b/src/init.c
index 39b6e61edf6e4..29d91972aaa43 100644
--- a/src/init.c
+++ b/src/init.c
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ static void jl_resolve_sysimg_location(JL_IMAGE_SEARCH rel)
     if (jl_options.output_code_coverage)
         jl_options.output_code_coverage = absformat(jl_options.output_code_coverage);
     if (jl_options.tracked_path)
-        jl_options.tracked_path = absformat(jl_options.tracked_path);
+        jl_options.tracked_path = abspath(jl_options.tracked_path, 0);
 
     const char **cmdp = jl_options.cmds;
     if (cmdp) {