diff --git a/borghelper.sh b/borghelper.sh
index 7ff4c02..5a73bba 100755
--- a/borghelper.sh
+++ b/borghelper.sh
@@ -274,6 +274,12 @@ if [ "$restoreOptions" ]; then restoreOptions=${restoreOptions##[[:space:]]}; fi
 # check/create restore path
 if [ "$operation" = 'restore' ]; then
     if [ -d "$restorePath" ]; then
+        # convert to absolute path
+        restorePath=$(
+            cd "$restorePath" || \
+            consoleError 5 'Cannot access specified restore directory.'; \
+            pwd -P
+        )
         if ! touch "${restorePath}/touch.test" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
             consoleError 5 'Cannot write to specified restore directory.'
         fi
@@ -281,6 +287,12 @@ if [ "$operation" = 'restore' ]; then
         if ! mkdir -p "${restorePath}" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
             consoleError 5 'Cannot create specified restore directory.'
         else
+            # convert to absolute path
+            restorePath=$(
+                cd "$restorePath" || \
+                consoleError 5 'Cannot access specified restore directory.'; \
+                pwd -P
+            )
             if ! touch "${restorePath}/touch.test" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
             consoleError 5 'Cannot write to specified restore directory.'
             fi
@@ -398,6 +410,6 @@ exit 0
 # 2:    parameter missing/invalid in .borgvars file
 # 3:    could not create/remove borg tmp directory
 # 4:    could not write sample borgvars file (permissions?)
-# 5:    cannot create/write to restore path or could not remove touch.test file
+# 5:    cannot access/create/write to restore path or could not remove test file
 
 #EOF
\ No newline at end of file