diff --git a/compose/config.py b/compose/config.py
index c054213eb..d32fe37e5 100644
--- a/compose/config.py
+++ b/compose/config.py
@@ -140,8 +140,11 @@ def make_service_dict(name, service_dict, working_dir=None):
 
 class ServiceLoader(object):
     def __init__(self, working_dir, filename=None, already_seen=None):
-        self.working_dir = working_dir
-        self.filename = filename
+        self.working_dir = os.path.abspath(working_dir)
+        if filename:
+            self.filename = os.path.abspath(filename)
+        else:
+            self.filename = filename
         self.already_seen = already_seen or []
 
     def make_service_dict(self, name, service_dict):