diff --git a/lib/guard/listener.rb b/lib/guard/listener.rb
index 8d14c1a..6fba4e7 100644
--- a/lib/guard/listener.rb
+++ b/lib/guard/listener.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ module Guard
     def initialize(directory=Dir.pwd)
       @directory = directory.to_s
       @sha1_checksums_hash = {}
+      @relativate_paths = true
       update_last_event
     end
 
@@ -64,11 +65,17 @@ module Guard
 
     # scopes all given paths to the current #directory
     def relativate_paths(paths)
+      return paths unless relativate_paths?
       paths.map do |path| 
         path.gsub(%r~^#{directory}/~, '')
       end
     end
 
+    attr_writer :relativate_paths
+    def relativate_paths?
+      !!@relativate_paths
+    end
+
 
   private
 
diff --git a/spec/guard/listener_spec.rb b/spec/guard/listener_spec.rb
index 90f5da2..a2cc1f7 100644
--- a/spec/guard/listener_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/guard/listener_spec.rb
@@ -38,10 +38,18 @@ describe Guard::Listener do
   end
 
   describe "#relativate_paths" do
-    subject { described_class.new }
-    it "should relavate paths to the configured directory" do
-      subject.stub!(:directory).and_return('/tmp')
-      subject.relativate_paths(%w( /tmp/a /tmp/a/b /tmp/a.b/c.d )).should =~ %w( a a/b a.b/c.d )
+    subject { described_class.new('/tmp') }
+    before :each do
+      @paths = %w( /tmp/a /tmp/a/b /tmp/a.b/c.d )
+    end
+
+    it "should relativate paths to the configured directory" do
+      subject.relativate_paths(@paths).should =~ %w( a a/b a.b/c.d )
+    end
+
+    it "can be disabled" do
+      subject.relativate_paths = false
+      subject.relativate_paths(@paths).should == @paths
     end
   end