diff --git a/java/com/google/devtools/build/android/desugar/Desugar.java b/java/com/google/devtools/build/android/desugar/Desugar.java
index b4b4c8e..a09dc0d 100644
--- a/java/com/google/devtools/build/android/desugar/Desugar.java
+++ b/java/com/google/devtools/build/android/desugar/Desugar.java
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@
   private static Path createAndRegisterLambdaDumpDirectory() throws IOException {
     String propertyValue = System.getProperty(LambdaClassMaker.LAMBDA_METAFACTORY_DUMPER_PROPERTY);
     if (propertyValue != null) {
-      return Paths.get(propertyValue);
+      return Paths.get(propertyValue).toAbsolutePath();
     }
 
     Path dumpDirectory = Files.createTempDirectory("lambdas");