diff --git a/scikits/image/__init__.py b/scikits/image/__init__.py
index 4c539c41..35108d27 100644
--- a/scikits/image/__init__.py
+++ b/scikits/image/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 import os.path as _osp
 
-data_dir = _osp.join(_osp.dirname(__file__), 'data')
+data_dir = _osp.abspath(_osp.join(_osp.dirname(__file__), 'data'))
 
 from version import version as __version__