diff --git a/sigil/common/core/src/org/apache/felix/sigil/config/BldProject.java b/sigil/common/core/src/org/apache/felix/sigil/config/BldProject.java
index 426e35b..7f024d5 100644
--- a/sigil/common/core/src/org/apache/felix/sigil/config/BldProject.java
+++ b/sigil/common/core/src/org/apache/felix/sigil/config/BldProject.java
@@ -176,7 +176,12 @@
 
             try
             {
-                File file = new File(base, defaults).getCanonicalFile();
+                File file = new File(defaults);
+                if (!file.isAbsolute()) {
+                    file = new File(base, defaults);
+                }
+                file = file.getCanonicalFile();
+                
                 URL url = file.toURL();
                 BldProperties bp = new BldProperties(file.getParentFile(), bldOverrides);