diff --git a/avocado/core/test.py b/avocado/core/test.py
index eb79e2960e..6045747478 100644
--- a/avocado/core/test.py
+++ b/avocado/core/test.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def _get_datadir(self, source):
 
         return os.path.join(*paths)
 
-    def get_data(self, filename, source=None, must_exist=True):
+    def get_data(self, filename, source=None, must_exist=True, abs_path=False):
         """
         Retrieves the path to a given data file.
 
@@ -202,7 +202,10 @@ def get_data(self, filename, source=None, must_exist=True):
                         path,
                         (f"assumed to be located at " f"{attempt_source} source dir"),
                     )
-                    return path
+                    if not abs_path:
+                        return os.path.abspath(path)
+                    else:
+                        return path
                 else:
                     if os.path.exists(path):
                         self.log.debug(
@@ -211,7 +214,10 @@ def get_data(self, filename, source=None, must_exist=True):
                             path,
                             f"found at {attempt_source} source dir",
                         )
-                        return path
+                        if not abs_path:
+                            return os.path.abspath(path)
+                        else:
+                            return path
 
         self.log.debug(
             log_fmt, filename, "NOT FOUND", f"data sources: {', '.join(sources)}"