diff --git a/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/bash-template b/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/bash-template
index cb38bebc7..8416bbc44 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/bash-template
+++ b/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/bash-template
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ realpath () {
       COUNT=$(($COUNT + 1))
   done
 
+  if [ "$TARGET_FILE" == "." -o "$TARGET_FILE" == ".." ]; then
+    cd "$TARGET_FILE"
+    TARGET_FILEPATH=
+  else
+    TARGET_FILEPATH=/$TARGET_FILE
+  fi
+
   # make sure we grab the actual windows path, instead of cygwin's path.
   if [[ "x$CHECK_CYGWIN" == "x" ]]; then
     echo "$(pwd -P)/$TARGET_FILE"