diff --git a/Lib/ufoProcessor/__init__.py b/Lib/ufoProcessor/__init__.py
index 770b2c7..180e01c 100644
--- a/Lib/ufoProcessor/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/ufoProcessor/__init__.py
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ def generateUFO(self, processRules=True, glyphNames=None, pairs=None, bend=True)
             if instanceDescriptor.path is None:
                 continue
             font = self.makeInstance(instanceDescriptor, processRules, glyphNames=glyphNames, pairs=pairs, bend=bend)
-            folder = os.path.dirname(instanceDescriptor.path)
+            folder = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(instanceDescriptor.path))
             path = instanceDescriptor.path
             if not os.path.exists(folder):
                 os.makedirs(folder)