diff --git a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cli/ResolveFile.java b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cli/ResolveFile.java
index 8622ce3429..7a1652e249 100644
--- a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cli/ResolveFile.java
+++ b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cli/ResolveFile.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
  */
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.nio.file.Paths;
 
 /**
  * Resolve relative file path against the given base directory
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ else if ( file.getPath().startsWith( File.separator ) )
         }
         else
         {
-            return new File( baseDirectory, file.getPath() ).getAbsoluteFile();
+            return Paths.get( baseDirectory, file.getPath() ).normalize().toFile();
         }
     }
 }