diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in b/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in
index 3ca24776d4..47a23c901a 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 [ -z $TOP ] && echo "ardev_common.sh: TOP var must be set" >&2 && exit 1
 
+TOP=`realpath "$TOP"`
+
 #export G_DEBUG=fatal_criticals
 
 libs=$TOP/@LIBS@
@@ -15,10 +17,10 @@ export GTK2_RC_FILES=/nonexistent
 
 export ARDOUR_SURFACES_PATH=$libs/surfaces/osc:$libs/surfaces/faderport8:$libs/surfaces/faderport:$libs/surfaces/generic_midi:$libs/surfaces/tranzport:$libs/surfaces/powermate:$libs/surfaces/mackie:$libs/surfaces/us2400:$libs/surfaces/wiimote:$libs/surfaces/push2:$libs/surfaces/maschine2:$libs/surfaces/cc121:$libs/surfaces/launch_control_xl:$libs/surfaces/contourdesign:$libs/surfaces/websockets
 export ARDOUR_PANNER_PATH=$libs/panners
-export ARDOUR_DATA_PATH=$TOP/share:$TOP/build:$TOP/gtk2_ardour:$TOP/build/gtk2_ardour:.
-export ARDOUR_MIDIMAPS_PATH=$TOP/share/surfaces/midi_maps:.
-export ARDOUR_EXPORT_FORMATS_PATH=$TOP/share/export:.
-export ARDOUR_THEMES_PATH=$TOP/gtk2_ardour/themes:.
+export ARDOUR_DATA_PATH=$TOP/share:$TOP/build:$TOP/gtk2_ardour:$TOP/build/gtk2_ardour
+export ARDOUR_MIDIMAPS_PATH=$TOP/share/surfaces/midi_maps
+export ARDOUR_EXPORT_FORMATS_PATH=$TOP/share/export
+export ARDOUR_THEMES_PATH=$TOP/gtk2_ardour/themes
 export ARDOUR_BACKEND_PATH=$libs/backends/jack:$libs/backends/dummy:$libs/backends/alsa:$libs/backends/coreaudio:$libs/backends/portaudio:$libs/backends/pulseaudio
 export ARDOUR_TEST_PATH=$TOP/libs/ardour/test/data
 export PBD_TEST_PATH=$TOP/libs/pbd/test