diff --git a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/DryMongoBinary.ts b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/DryMongoBinary.ts
index e773d442..564ba5ef 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/DryMongoBinary.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/DryMongoBinary.ts
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export class DryMongoBinary {
     if (!!useOpts.systemBinary) {
       log(`locateBinary: env "SYSTEM_BINARY" was provided with value: "${useOpts.systemBinary}"`);
 
-      const systemReturn = await this.getSystemPath(useOpts.systemBinary);
+      const systemReturn = await this.getSystemPath(path.resolve(useOpts.systemBinary));
 
       if (isNullOrUndefined(systemReturn)) {
         throw new BinaryNotFoundError(useOpts.systemBinary, ' (systemBinary)');
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/dryBinary.test.ts b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/dryBinary.test.ts
index 67ba5832..ba2517fa 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/dryBinary.test.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/dryBinary.test.ts
@@ -499,6 +499,18 @@ describe('DryBinary', () => {
       expect(fspromises.access).toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
+    it('should return SystemBinary with absolute path', async () => {
+      const mockBinary = 'bin/mongod';
+      process.env[envName(ResolveConfigVariables.SYSTEM_BINARY)] = mockBinary;
+      jest.spyOn(fspromises, 'access').mockResolvedValue(void 0);
+
+      const returnValue = await binary.DryMongoBinary.locateBinary({ version: '1.1.1' });
+      expect(returnValue).not.toEqual(mockBinary);
+      expect(returnValue).toEqual(path.resolve(mockBinary));
+      expect(binary.DryMongoBinary.binaryCache.size).toBe(0); // system binaries dont get added to the cache
+      expect(fspromises.access).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('should throw an error if SystemBinary was provided, but not found', async () => {
       const mockBinary = '/usr/local/bin/mongod';
       process.env[envName(ResolveConfigVariables.SYSTEM_BINARY)] = mockBinary;