diff --git a/scm/src/main/org/apache/maven/plugins/scm/ScmBean.java b/scm/src/main/org/apache/maven/plugins/scm/ScmBean.java
index 5d945168..256725ba 100644
--- a/scm/src/main/org/apache/maven/plugins/scm/ScmBean.java
+++ b/scm/src/main/org/apache/maven/plugins/scm/ScmBean.java
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public class ScmBean
         }
         checkoutDirectory.mkdirs();
 
-        CheckOutScmResult result = scmManager.checkOut( repository, new ScmFileSet( checkoutDirectory ), tag );
+        CheckOutScmResult result = scmManager.checkOut( repository, new ScmFileSet( checkoutDirectory.getAbsoluteFile() ), tag );
 
         checkResult( result );
     }