diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
index 95b8392c92a..d2c282c2a64 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
@@ -2198,14 +2198,13 @@ class AnsibleModule(object):
             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
         )
 
-        if cwd and os.path.isdir(cwd):
-            kwargs['cwd'] = cwd
-
         # store the pwd
         prev_dir = os.getcwd()
 
         # make sure we're in the right working directory
         if cwd and os.path.isdir(cwd):
+            cwd = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(cwd))
+            kwargs['cwd'] = cwd
             try:
                 os.chdir(cwd)
             except (OSError, IOError):
@@ -2217,7 +2216,6 @@ class AnsibleModule(object):
             old_umask = os.umask(umask)
 
         try:
-
             if self._debug:
                 self.log('Executing: ' + clean_args)
             cmd = subprocess.Popen(args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/test/units/module_utils/basic/test_run_command.py b/test/units/module_utils/basic/test_run_command.py
index 904f65b6aab..da56e56a601 100644
--- a/test/units/module_utils/basic/test_run_command.py
+++ b/test/units/module_utils/basic/test_run_command.py
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ class TestAnsibleModuleRunCommand(unittest.TestCase):
             if path == '/inaccessible':
                 raise OSError(errno.EPERM, "Permission denied: '/inaccessible'")
 
+        def mock_os_abspath(path):
+            if path.startswith('/'):
+                return path
+            else:
+                return self.os.getcwd.return_value + '/' +  path
+
         args = json.dumps(dict(ANSIBLE_MODULE_ARGS={}))
         # unittest doesn't have a clean place to use a context manager, so we have to enter/exit manually
         self.stdin_swap = swap_stdin_and_argv(stdin_data=args)
@@ -78,6 +84,7 @@ class TestAnsibleModuleRunCommand(unittest.TestCase):
         self.os.path.isdir.return_value = True
         self.os.chdir.side_effect = mock_os_chdir
         self.os.read.side_effect = mock_os_read
+        self.os.path.abspath.side_effect = mock_os_abspath
 
         self.subprocess = patch('ansible.module_utils.basic.subprocess').start()
         self.cmd = Mock()
@@ -128,6 +135,12 @@ class TestAnsibleModuleRunCommand(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.os.chdir.mock_calls,
                          [call('/new'), call('/old'), ])
 
+    def test_cwd_relative_path(self):
+        self.os.getcwd.return_value = '/old'
+        self.module.run_command('/bin/ls', cwd='sub-dir')
+        self.assertEqual(self.os.chdir.mock_calls,
+                         [call('/old/sub-dir'), call('/old'), ])
+
     def test_cwd_not_a_dir(self):
         self.os.getcwd.return_value = '/old'
         self.os.path.isdir.side_effect = lambda d: d != '/not-a-dir'