diff --git a/src/main/java/com/solace/tools/solconfig/SempClient.java b/src/main/java/com/solace/tools/solconfig/SempClient.java
index 5eb43aa..bd27944 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/solace/tools/solconfig/SempClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/solace/tools/solconfig/SempClient.java
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ public static Map<String, Object> readMapFromJsonFile(Path confPath) {
     private static String freeMakerToString(Path confPath) {
         try {
             Configuration cfg = new Configuration(Configuration.VERSION_2_3_31);
-            cfg.setDirectoryForTemplateLoading(confPath.getParent().toFile());
+            cfg.setDirectoryForTemplateLoading(confPath.toAbsolutePath().getParent().toFile());
             cfg.setDefaultEncoding("UTF-8");
             cfg.setTemplateExceptionHandler(TemplateExceptionHandler.RETHROW_HANDLER);
             cfg.setLogTemplateExceptions(false);