diff --git a/parsers.go b/parsers.go
index d80a460..fc588bc 100644
--- a/parsers.go
+++ b/parsers.go
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ package envconf
 import ("strconv"
         "fmt"
         "errors"
-        "path/filepath"
+        "os"
+        "path"
         "time")
 
 func parseInt(key string, str string)(ret cValue) {
@@ -35,12 +36,16 @@ func parseBool(key string, str string)(ret cValue) {
     return
 }
 
-func parseDirectory(key string, str string)(ret cValue) {
-    val, err := filepath.Abs(str)
+func parseDirectory(_ string, str string)(ret cValue) {
+    wd, err := os.Getwd()
     if err == nil {
-        ret.strval = val
+        if path.IsAbs(str) {
+            ret.strval = path.Clean(str)
+        } else {
+            ret.strval = path.Join(wd, str)
+        }
     } else {
-        ret.err = errors.New(fmt.Sprintf(`Environment variable "%s" is not of type directory.`, key))
+        ret.strval = path.Clean(str)
     }
     return
 }