diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 46a1d2b..cf1824f 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@ ubuntu-dev-tools (0.124) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   * bitesize, doc/bitesize.1: add script to tag a bug as bitesize and add a 
     comment that you are willing to help with fixing the bug.
 
- -- Daniel Holbach <daniel.holbach@ubuntu.com>  Mon, 09 May 2011 14:33:48 +0200
+  [ Benjamin Drung ]
+  * sponsor-patch: Fix assertion error if a relative working directory
+    is specified.
+
+ -- Benjamin Drung <bdrung@debian.org>  Mon, 16 May 2011 00:57:40 +0200
 
 ubuntu-dev-tools (0.122) unstable; urgency=low
 
diff --git a/ubuntutools/sponsor_patch/sponsor_patch.py b/ubuntutools/sponsor_patch/sponsor_patch.py
index a24167f..7070c8e 100644
--- a/ubuntutools/sponsor_patch/sponsor_patch.py
+++ b/ubuntutools/sponsor_patch/sponsor_patch.py
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ def get_open_ubuntu_bug_task(launchpad, bug):
 
 def sponsor_patch(bug_number, build, builder, edit, keyid, lpinstance, update,
                   upload, workdir, verbose=False):
-    workdir = os.path.expanduser(workdir)
+    workdir = os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser(workdir))
     if not os.path.isdir(workdir):
         try:
             os.makedirs(workdir)