diff --git a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
index daf9c6744da..ce07866ff9f 100755
--- a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
+++ b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
@@ -1494,6 +1494,7 @@ sub command_line_setup {
   {
     $default_vardir= "$glob_mysql_test_dir/var";
   }
+  $default_vardir = realpath $default_vardir unless IS_WINDOWS;
 
   if ( ! $opt_vardir )
   {