diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index 7b98bef..2edbea3 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@
   }
 
   # Target directory for the backup files
-  # It his is a relative path it will be relative to the script's directory
+  # If this is a relative path it will be relative to the script's directory
+  # Absolute path starts with '/' or '~'
   backup_dir: './output'
 
   # Maximum number of messages to backup for each target (0 means unlimited)
diff --git a/lib/util.rb b/lib/util.rb
index 6c22598..b189fa0 100644
--- a/lib/util.rb
+++ b/lib/util.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,15 @@ def get_full_name(user)
 end
 
 def get_backup_dir
-  File.expand_path(File.join('..', '..', $config['backup_dir']), __FILE__)
+  parent_dir =
+    case $config['backup_dir'][0]
+    when '/', '~'
+      $config['backup_dir']
+    else
+      ['..', '..', $config['backup_dir']]
+    end
+
+  File.expand_path(File.join(parent_dir), __FILE__)
 end
 
 def get_media_dir(dialog)