diff --git a/release/release.sh b/release/release.sh
index 6dc4a28d97b5..0394036b82e2 100755
--- a/release/release.sh
+++ b/release/release.sh
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ main() {
 	while getopts c: opt; do
 		case ${opt} in
 			c)
-				RELEASECONF="${OPTARG}"
+				RELEASECONF="$(realpath ${OPTARG})"
 				;;
 			\?)
 				usage