diff --git a/Shorewall/lib.config b/Shorewall/lib.config
index dfe2f83be..6df14d733 100644
--- a/Shorewall/lib.config
+++ b/Shorewall/lib.config
@@ -1852,7 +1852,10 @@ do_initialize() {
 
     [ -f $VERSION_FILE ] && VERSION=$(cat $VERSION_FILE)
 
-    [ -n "$SHOREWALL_DIR" ] && CONFIG_PATH=$SHOREWALL_DIR:$CONFIG_PATH
+    if [ -n "$SHOREWALL_DIR" ]; then
+	SHOREWALL_DIR=(resolve_file $SHOREWALL_DIR)
+	CONFIG_PATH=$SHOREWALL_DIR:$CONFIG_PATH
+    fi
 
     run_user_exit params