diff --git a/platformio/util.py b/platformio/util.py
index a5c015f3..83c3bdf3 100644
--- a/platformio/util.py
+++ b/platformio/util.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import json
 from os import name as os_name
 from os import getcwd, getenv, listdir, makedirs, utime
-from os.path import dirname, expanduser, isdir, isfile, join, realpath
+from os.path import abspath, dirname, expanduser, isdir, isfile, join, realpath
 from platform import system, uname
 from subprocess import PIPE, Popen
 
@@ -53,9 +53,8 @@ def get_lib_dir():
                 config.has_option("platformio", "lib_dir")):
             lib_dir = config.get("platformio", "lib_dir")
             if lib_dir.startswith("~"):
-                return expanduser(lib_dir)
-            else:
-                return lib_dir
+                lib_dir = expanduser(lib_dir)
+            return abspath(lib_dir)
     except NotPlatformProject:
         pass
     return join(get_home_dir(), "lib")