diff --git a/release/tools/vmimage.subr b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
index 14ef7f106e30..6c3916e333e7 100644
--- a/release/tools/vmimage.subr
+++ b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ write_partition_layout() {
 	fi
 
 	_OBJDIR="$(make -C ${WORLDDIR} -V .OBJDIR)"
+	_OBJDIR="$(realpath ${_OBJDIR})"
 	if [ -d "${_OBJDIR%%/usr/src}/${TARGET}.${TARGET_ARCH}" ]; then
 		BOOTFILES="/${_OBJDIR%%/usr/src}/${TARGET}.${TARGET_ARCH}/usr/src/sys/boot"
 	else