diff --git a/src/ast_path.cpp b/src/ast_path.cpp
index e0348db..b34817b 100644
--- a/src/ast_path.cpp
+++ b/src/ast_path.cpp
@@ -359,3 +359,16 @@
     impl_pushFragment(m_nodes, fragment);
     validatePathNodes(m_nodes);
 }
+
+dataPath_ realPath(const dataPath_& cwd, const dataPath_& newPath)
+{
+    if (newPath.m_scope == Scope::Absolute) {
+        return newPath;
+    }
+
+    dataPath_ res = cwd;
+    for (const auto& it : newPath.m_nodes) {
+        res.pushFragment(it);
+    }
+    return res;
+}
diff --git a/src/ast_path.hpp b/src/ast_path.hpp
index e7df783..2da836f 100644
--- a/src/ast_path.hpp
+++ b/src/ast_path.hpp
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@
 schemaPath_ dataPathToSchemaPath(const dataPath_& path);
 std::string escapeListKeyString(const std::string& what);
 
+// @brief Combining the current working directory with a new path, this function returns the resulting absolute path
+dataPath_ realPath(const dataPath_& cwd, const dataPath_& newPath);
+
 BOOST_FUSION_ADAPT_STRUCT(container_, m_name)
 BOOST_FUSION_ADAPT_STRUCT(listElement_, m_name, m_keys)
 BOOST_FUSION_ADAPT_STRUCT(leafListElement_, m_name, m_value)
diff --git a/src/parser.cpp b/src/parser.cpp
index 982be11..1547478 100644
--- a/src/parser.cpp
+++ b/src/parser.cpp
@@ -85,13 +85,7 @@
 
 void Parser::changeNode(const dataPath_& name)
 {
-    if (name.m_scope == Scope::Absolute) {
-        m_curDir = name;
-    } else {
-        for (const auto& it : name.m_nodes) {
-            m_curDir.pushFragment(it);
-        }
-    }
+    m_curDir = realPath(m_curDir, name);
 }
 
 std::string Parser::currentNode() const