diff --git a/bin/bitbake-setup b/bin/bitbake-setup
index bdf134aea..1a42aaa51 100755
--- a/bin/bitbake-setup
+++ b/bin/bitbake-setup
@@ -600,6 +600,7 @@ def obtain_config(top_dir, registry, args, source_overrides, d):
         config_id = args.config[0]
         config_parameters = args.config[1:]
         if os.path.exists(config_id):
+            config_id = os.path.abspath(config_id)
             logger.info("Reading configuration from local file\n    {}".format(config_id))
             upstream_config = {'type':'local',
                                'path':os.path.abspath(config_id),