diff --git a/avocado/core/test.py b/avocado/core/test.py
index eb79e2960e..6d9e46f257 100644
--- a/avocado/core/test.py
+++ b/avocado/core/test.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def get_data(self, filename, source=None, must_exist=True):
                         path,
                         (f"assumed to be located at " f"{attempt_source} source dir"),
                     )
-                    return path
+                    return os.path.abspath(path)
                 else:
                     if os.path.exists(path):
                         self.log.debug(
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ def get_data(self, filename, source=None, must_exist=True):
                             path,
                             f"found at {attempt_source} source dir",
                         )
-                        return path
+                        return os.path.abspath(path)
 
         self.log.debug(
             log_fmt, filename, "NOT FOUND", f"data sources: {', '.join(sources)}"