diff --git a/src/core/kconfig.cpp b/src/core/kconfig.cpp
--- a/src/core/kconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/core/kconfig.cpp
@@ -755,10 +755,13 @@
                 files = getGlobalFiles();
             } else {
                 if (QDir::isAbsolutePath(fileName)) {
-                    files << fileName;
+                    const QString canonicalFile = QFileInfo(fileName).canonicalFilePath();
+                    if (!canonicalFile.isEmpty()) { // empty if it doesn't exist
+                        files << canonicalFile;
+                    }
                 } else {
                     Q_FOREACH (const QString &f, QStandardPaths::locateAll(resourceType, fileName)) {
-                        files.prepend(f);
+                        files.prepend(QFileInfo(f).canonicalFilePath());
                     }
 
                     // allow fallback to config files bundled in resources
diff --git a/src/core/kconfigini.cpp b/src/core/kconfigini.cpp
--- a/src/core/kconfigini.cpp
+++ b/src/core/kconfigini.cpp
@@ -602,7 +602,11 @@
     if (info.exists()) {
         setLocalFilePath(info.canonicalFilePath());
     } else {
-        setLocalFilePath(file);
+        const QString dir = info.dir().canonicalPath();
+        if (!dir.isEmpty())
+            setLocalFilePath(dir + QLatin1Char('/') + info.fileName());
+        else
+            setLocalFilePath(file);
     }
 }