diff --git a/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_compare.rb b/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_compare.rb
index b4d7701..5fdb027 100644
--- a/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_compare.rb
+++ b/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_compare.rb
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def run
 
         @cookbook_name = parse_name_args!
 
-        @install_path = config[:cookbook_path].first
+        @install_path = Fle.expand_path(config[:cookbook_path].first)
 
         @repo = CookbookSCMRepoExtensions.new(@install_path, ui, config)
 
diff --git a/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_install.rb b/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_install.rb
index ca3ecbd..cee2f2f 100644
--- a/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_install.rb
+++ b/lib/chef/knife/cookbook_github_install.rb
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def run
 
         parse_name_args!
 
-        @install_path = config[:cookbook_path].first
+        @install_path = File.expand_path(config[:cookbook_path].first)
         ui.info "Installing #@cookbook_name from #{github_uri} to #{@install_path}"
 
         @repo = CookbookSCMRepoExtensions.new(@install_path, ui, config)