diff --git a/cmd/sops/main.go b/cmd/sops/main.go
index 2921bac8a..b9a26b15c 100644
--- a/cmd/sops/main.go
+++ b/cmd/sops/main.go
@@ -791,6 +791,11 @@ func main() {
 				fileNameOverride := c.String("filename-override")
 				if fileNameOverride == "" {
 					fileNameOverride = fileName
+				} else {
+					fileNameOverride, err = filepath.Abs(fileNameOverride)
+					if err != nil {
+						return toExitError(err)
+					}
 				}
 
 				inputStore, err := inputStore(c, fileNameOverride)
@@ -972,6 +977,11 @@ func main() {
 				fileNameOverride := c.String("filename-override")
 				if fileNameOverride == "" {
 					fileNameOverride = fileName
+				} else {
+					fileNameOverride, err = filepath.Abs(fileNameOverride)
+					if err != nil {
+						return toExitError(err)
+					}
 				}
 
 				inputStore, err := inputStore(c, fileNameOverride)
@@ -1138,6 +1148,11 @@ func main() {
 				fileNameOverride := c.String("filename-override")
 				if fileNameOverride == "" {
 					fileNameOverride = fileName
+				} else {
+					fileNameOverride, err = filepath.Abs(fileNameOverride)
+					if err != nil {
+						return toExitError(err)
+					}
 				}
 
 				inputStore, err := inputStore(c, fileNameOverride)
@@ -1775,6 +1790,11 @@ func main() {
 		fileNameOverride := c.String("filename-override")
 		if fileNameOverride == "" {
 			fileNameOverride = fileName
+		} else {
+			fileNameOverride, err = filepath.Abs(fileNameOverride)
+			if err != nil {
+				return toExitError(err)
+			}
 		}
 
 		commandCount := 0