diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/startup_fsm.cc b/gtk2_ardour/startup_fsm.cc
index 70f0f0d708..b724d6c6cf 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/startup_fsm.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/startup_fsm.cc
@@ -583,15 +583,6 @@ StartupFSM::get_session_parameters_from_path (string const & path_, string const
 
 	string path (path_);
 
-	/*  ... did the  user give us a path or just a name? */
-
-	if (path.find (G_DIR_SEPARATOR) == string::npos) {
-		/* user gave session name with no path info, use
-		   default session folder.
-		*/
-		path = Glib::build_filename (Config->get_default_session_parent_dir (), path);
-	}
-
 	if (Glib::file_test (path.c_str(), Glib::FILE_TEST_EXISTS)) {
 
 		session_is_new = false;
@@ -606,6 +597,10 @@ StartupFSM::get_session_parameters_from_path (string const & path_, string const
 			}
 		}
 
+		// TODO THIS SHOULD CALL ::check_session_parameters (false)
+		// to handle session archives etc
+		// (needs refactoring of ::check_session_parameters)
+
 		session_name = basename_nosuffix (path);
 
 		if (Glib::file_test (path.c_str(), Glib::FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR)) {
@@ -642,6 +637,18 @@ StartupFSM::get_session_parameters_from_path (string const & path_, string const
 
 	}
 
+	if (!ARDOUR_COMMAND_LINE::new_session) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	/*  ... did the  user give us a path or just a name? */
+	if (!Glib::path_is_absolute (path)) {
+		/* check for cwd relative path */
+		if (path.find (G_DIR_SEPARATOR) == string::npos) {
+			path = Glib::build_filename (Config->get_default_session_parent_dir (), path);
+		}
+	}
+
 	/* Everything after this involves a new session */
 
 	session_name = basename_nosuffix (path);
@@ -810,25 +817,11 @@ StartupFSM::check_session_parameters (bool must_be_new)
 		session_template = session_dialog->session_template_name();
 	}
 
-	if (session_name[0] == G_DIR_SEPARATOR ||
-#ifdef PLATFORM_WINDOWS
-	    // Windows file system .. detect absolute path
-	    // C:/*
-	    (session_name.length() > 3 && session_name[1] == ':' && session_name[2] == G_DIR_SEPARATOR)
-#else
-	    // Sensible file systems
-	    // /* or ./* or ../*
-	    (session_name.length() > 2 && session_name[0] == '.' && session_name[1] == G_DIR_SEPARATOR) ||
-	    (session_name.length() > 3 && session_name[0] == '.' && session_name[1] == '.' && session_name[2] == G_DIR_SEPARATOR)
-#endif
-		)
-	{
-
+	if (Glib::path_is_absolute (session_name) || session_name.find (G_DIR_SEPARATOR) != string::npos) {
 		/* user typed absolute path or cwd-relative path
-		   specified into session name field. So ... infer
-		   session path and name from what was given.
-		*/
-
+		 * specified into session name field. So ... infer
+		 * session path and name from what was given.
+		 */
 		session_path = Glib::path_get_dirname (session_name);
 		session_name = Glib::path_get_basename (session_name);