diff --git a/bin/cdist-apply b/bin/cdist-apply
index aa118cda..cbe84253 100755
--- a/bin/cdist-apply
+++ b/bin/cdist-apply
@@ -33,4 +33,9 @@ fi
 
 # Run the manifest, but abort on first error
 set -e
+
+# change to config dir, to be able to use relative filenames
+cd "${conf}"
+
+# And apply the stuff
 . "${conf}/manifest"