diff --git a/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py b/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py
index 0c9020bd5..cad3c65e5 100644
--- a/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py
+++ b/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py
@@ -357,6 +357,7 @@ def generate(d: Dict, overwrite: bool = True, silent: bool = False, templatedir:
     d.setdefault('extensions', [])
     d['copyright'] = time.strftime('%Y') + ', ' + d['author']
 
+    d["path"] = os.path.abspath(d['path'])
     ensuredir(d['path'])
 
     srcdir = path.join(d['path'], 'source') if d['sep'] else d['path']