diff --git a/hat-examples/fish/Dockerfile b/hat-examples/fish/Dockerfile
index 4894ff3..8a52f83 100644
--- a/hat-examples/fish/Dockerfile
+++ b/hat-examples/fish/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 FROM codercom/ubuntu-dev
 
-RUN sudo apt-get -y install fish
+RUN sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get -y install fish
 RUN sudo chsh user -s $(which fish)
 
 LABEL share.fish="~/.config/fish:~/.config/fish"
diff --git a/hat_builder.go b/hat_builder.go
index 20dd761..9a72d90 100644
--- a/hat_builder.go
+++ b/hat_builder.go
@@ -52,7 +52,12 @@ func (b *hatBuilder) resolveHatPath() (string, error) {
 		return hat.ResolveGitHubPath(hatPath)
 	}
 
-	return hatPath, nil
+	hostHomeDir, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	return resolvePath(hostHomeDir, hatPath), nil
 }
 
 // applyHat applies the hat to the base image.
diff --git a/runcmd.go b/runcmd.go
index 81a9915..8d14734 100644
--- a/runcmd.go
+++ b/runcmd.go
@@ -248,6 +248,9 @@ func (c *runcmd) build(gf *globalFlags, proj *project, b *hatBuilder, r *runner)
 	image := b.baseImage
 	if b.hatPath != "" {
 		image, err = b.applyHat()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// TODO proxy if container already exists.