diff --git a/src/coverlet.core/Helpers/InstrumentationHelper.cs b/src/coverlet.core/Helpers/InstrumentationHelper.cs
index ea1fc19e1..7c2b04c2e 100644
--- a/src/coverlet.core/Helpers/InstrumentationHelper.cs
+++ b/src/coverlet.core/Helpers/InstrumentationHelper.cs
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ public static string[] GetExcludedFiles(string[] excludes)
                     {
                         matcherDict.Add(root, new Matcher());
                     }
-                    matcherDict[root].AddInclude(excludeRule.Substring(root.Length));
+                    matcherDict[root].AddInclude(Path.GetFullPath(excludeRule).Substring(root.Length));
                 }
                 else
                 {