diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index df511e7c0..a2c6359cd 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -8704,8 +8704,9 @@ Use TAB to complete link prefixes, then RET for type-specific completion support
 	 (t
 	  (save-match-data
 	    (if (string-match (concat "^" (regexp-quote
-					   (file-name-as-directory
-					    default-directory)))
+					   (expand-file-name
+					    (file-name-as-directory
+					     default-directory))))
 			      (expand-file-name path))
 		;; We are linking a file with relative path name.
 		(setq path (substring (expand-file-name path)