diff --git a/pkg/config/cfgvars.go b/pkg/config/cfgvars.go
index f8e720209473..3acfc10734f6 100644
--- a/pkg/config/cfgvars.go
+++ b/pkg/config/cfgvars.go
@@ -107,7 +107,9 @@ func WithCommand(cmd command) CfgVarOption {
 		}
 
 		if f, err := flags.GetString("kubelet-root-dir"); err == nil && f != "" {
-			c.KubeletRootDir = f
+			if f, err := filepath.Abs(f); err == nil {
+				c.KubeletRootDir = f
+			}
 		}
 
 		if f, err := flags.GetString("config"); err == nil && f != "" {
diff --git a/pkg/config/cfgvars_test.go b/pkg/config/cfgvars_test.go
index f66f63cdaecf..f1e7e5a50e6f 100644
--- a/pkg/config/cfgvars_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/cfgvars_test.go
@@ -81,9 +81,12 @@ func TestWithCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	c := &CfgVars{}
 	WithCommand(fakeCmd)(c)
 
+	dir, err := filepath.Abs("/path/to/kubelet")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
 	assert.Same(t, in, c.stdin)
 	assert.Equal(t, "/path/to/data", c.DataDir)
-	assert.Equal(t, "/path/to/kubelet", c.KubeletRootDir)
+	assert.Equal(t, dir, c.KubeletRootDir)
 	assert.Equal(t, "/path/to/config", c.StartupConfigPath)
 	assert.Equal(t, "/path/to/socket", c.StatusSocketPath)
 	assert.True(t, c.EnableDynamicConfig)