diff --git a/dotdrop/config.py b/dotdrop/config.py
index ccf1ddd..ada5446 100644
--- a/dotdrop/config.py
+++ b/dotdrop/config.py
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@ from dotdrop.action import Action, Transform
 from dotdrop.utils import *
 
 
-TILD = '~'
-
-
 class Cfg:
     key_all = 'ALL'
 
@@ -314,7 +311,12 @@ class Cfg:
 
         # make sure we have an absolute dotpath
         self.curdotpath = self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath]
-        self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath] = self.abs_dotpath(self.curdotpath)
+        self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath] = self.abs_or_rel(self.curdotpath)
+
+        # make sure we have an absolute workdir
+        self.curworkdir = self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir]
+        self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir] = self.abs_or_rel(self.curworkdir)
+
         return True
 
     def _get_included_dotfiles(self, profile):
@@ -401,8 +403,9 @@ class Cfg:
         if self.key_ignoreempty not in self.lnk_settings:
             self.lnk_settings[self.key_ignoreempty] = self.default_ignoreempty
 
-    def abs_dotpath(self, path):
-        """transform path to an absolute path based on config path"""
+    def abs_or_rel(self, path):
+        """path is either absolute or relative to the config path"""
+        path = os.path.expanduser(path)
         if not os.path.isabs(path):
             absconf = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(
                 self.cfgpath), path)
@@ -424,7 +427,7 @@ class Cfg:
         return elem.lower()
 
     def _get_paths(self, path):
-        p = self._strip_home(path)
+        p = strip_home(path)
         dirs = []
         while True:
             p, f = os.path.split(p)
@@ -466,14 +469,6 @@ class Cfg:
                 break
         return key
 
-    def _strip_home(self, path):
-        """strip home part if any"""
-        path = os.path.expanduser(path)
-        home = os.path.expanduser(TILD)
-        if path.startswith(home):
-            path = path.lstrip(home)
-        return path
-
     def short_to_long(self):
         """transform all short keys to long keys"""
         if not self.content[self.key_dotfiles]:
@@ -600,22 +595,28 @@ class Cfg:
 
     def dump(self):
         """return a dump of the config"""
-        # temporary reset dotpath
+        # temporary reset paths
         dotpath = self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath]
+        workdir = self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir]
         self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath] = self.curdotpath
+        self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir] = self.curworkdir
         # dump
         ret = yaml.dump(self.content, default_flow_style=False, indent=2)
-        # restore dotpath
+        # restore paths
         self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath] = dotpath
+        self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir] = workdir
         return ret
 
     def save(self):
         """save the config to file"""
-        # temporary reset dotpath
+        # temporary reset paths
         dotpath = self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath]
+        workdir = self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir]
         self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath] = self.curdotpath
+        self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir] = self.curworkdir
         # save
         ret = self._save(self.content, self.cfgpath)
-        # restore dotpath
+        # restore path
         self.lnk_settings[self.key_dotpath] = dotpath
+        self.lnk_settings[self.key_workdir] = workdir
         return ret
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index 13b1cac..6d75143 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -22,14 +22,12 @@ from dotdrop.dotfile import Dotfile
 from dotdrop.config import Cfg
 from dotdrop.utils import *
 
-CUR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 LOG = Logger()
 ENV_PROFILE = 'DOTDROP_PROFILE'
 ENV_NOBANNER = 'DOTDROP_NOBANNER'
 PROFILE = socket.gethostname()
 if ENV_PROFILE in os.environ:
     PROFILE = os.environ[ENV_PROFILE]
-TILD = '~'
 TRANS_SUFFIX = 'trans'
 
 BANNER = """     _       _      _
@@ -235,7 +233,6 @@ def cmd_update(opts, conf, paths, iskey=False):
 def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
     """import dotfile(s) from paths"""
     ret = True
-    home = os.path.expanduser(TILD)
     cnt = 0
     for path in paths:
         if not os.path.lexists(path):
@@ -244,9 +241,7 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
             continue
         dst = path.rstrip(os.sep)
         dst = os.path.abspath(dst)
-        src = dst
-        if dst.startswith(home):
-            src = dst[len(home):]
+        src = strip_home(dst)
         strip = '.' + os.sep
         if opts['keepdot']:
             strip = os.sep
@@ -257,7 +252,7 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
         linkit = opts['link'] or opts['link_by_default']
 
         # prepare hierarchy for dotfile
-        srcf = os.path.join(CUR, opts['dotpath'], src)
+        srcf = os.path.join(opts['dotpath'], src)
         if not os.path.exists(srcf):
             cmd = ['mkdir', '-p', '{}'.format(os.path.dirname(srcf))]
             if opts['dry']:
@@ -294,7 +289,7 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
     else:
         conf.save()
     LOG.log('\n{} file(s) imported.'.format(cnt))
-    return True
+    return ret
 
 
 def cmd_list_profiles(conf):
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index bb28ebd..5292bae 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -253,8 +253,7 @@ class Installer:
     def _pivot_path(self, path, newdir, striphome=False):
         """change path to be under newdir"""
         if striphome:
-            home = os.path.expanduser('~')
-            path = path.lstrip(home)
+            utils.strip_home(path)
         sub = path.lstrip(os.sep)
         return os.path.join(newdir, sub)
 
diff --git a/dotdrop/updater.py b/dotdrop/updater.py
index e648a6c..8a3e1a1 100644
--- a/dotdrop/updater.py
+++ b/dotdrop/updater.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from dotdrop.logger import Logger
 from dotdrop.templategen import Templategen
 import dotdrop.utils as utils
 
+
 TILD = '~'
 
 
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@ class Updater:
 
     def __init__(self, conf, dotpath, dry, safe,
                  iskey=False, debug=False):
-        self.home = os.path.expanduser(TILD)
         self.conf = conf
         self.dotpath = dotpath
         self.dry = dry
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class Updater:
         ret = False
         new_path = None
         left = os.path.expanduser(path)
-        right = os.path.join(self.conf.abs_dotpath(self.dotpath), dotfile.src)
+        right = os.path.join(self.conf.abs_or_rel(self.dotpath), dotfile.src)
         right = os.path.expanduser(right)
         if dotfile.trans_w:
             # apply write transformation if any
@@ -95,10 +95,11 @@ class Updater:
         path = os.path.expanduser(path)
         path = os.path.expandvars(path)
         path = os.path.abspath(path)
+        home = os.path.expanduser(TILD) + os.sep
 
         # normalize the path
-        if path.startswith(self.home):
-            path = path.lstrip(self.home)
+        if path.startswith(home):
+            path = path[len(home):]
             path = os.path.join(TILD, path)
         return path
 
diff --git a/dotdrop/utils.py b/dotdrop/utils.py
index b949a75..b88780b 100644
--- a/dotdrop/utils.py
+++ b/dotdrop/utils.py
@@ -101,3 +101,11 @@ def content_empty(string):
     if string == b'\n':
         return True
     return False
+
+
+def strip_home(path):
+    """properly strip $HOME from path"""
+    home = os.path.expanduser('~') + os.sep
+    if path.startswith(home):
+        path = path[len(home):]
+    return path
diff --git a/tests-ng/workdir.sh b/tests-ng/workdir.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..cb57f93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/workdir.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2017, deadc0de6
+#
+# test workdir relative or absolute
+# returns 1 in case of error
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo -e "\e[96m\e[1m==> RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE) <==\e[0m"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+string="blabla"
+
+# the dotfile source
+tmp=`mktemp -d`
+
+tmpf="${tmp}/dotfiles"
+tmpw="${tmp}/workdir"
+
+mkdir -p ${tmpf}
+echo "dotfiles source (dotpath): ${tmpf}"
+mkdir -p ${tmpw}
+echo "workdir: ${tmpw}"
+
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmp}/config.yaml"
+echo "config file: ${cfg}"
+
+# the dotfile destination
+tmpd=`mktemp -d`
+echo "dotfiles destination: ${tmpd}"
+
+## RELATIVE
+echo "RUNNING RELATIVE"
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  workdir: `echo ${tmpw} | sed 's/^.*\///g'`
+dotfiles:
+  f_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    link: true
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_abc
+_EOF
+cat ${cfg}
+
+# create the dotfile
+echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${tmpf}/abc
+echo "${string}" >> ${tmpf}/abc
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -b -V
+
+# checks
+grep -r p1 ${tmpw} >/dev/null
+grep -r ${string} ${tmpw} >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "[ERROR] dotfile not installed" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "[ERROR] dotfile is not a symlink" && exit 1
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${tmp} ${tmpd}
+
+## ABSOLUTE
+echo "RUNNING ABSOLUTE"
+# the dotfile source
+tmp=`mktemp -d`
+
+tmpf="${tmp}/dotfiles"
+tmpw="${tmp}/workdir"
+
+mkdir -p ${tmpf}
+echo "dotfiles source (dotpath): ${tmpf}"
+mkdir -p ${tmpw}
+echo "workdir: ${tmpw}"
+
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmp}/config.yaml"
+echo "config file: ${cfg}"
+
+# the dotfile destination
+tmpd=`mktemp -d`
+echo "dotfiles destination: ${tmpd}"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  workdir: ${tmpw}
+dotfiles:
+  f_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    link: true
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_abc
+_EOF
+cat ${cfg}
+
+# create the dotfile
+echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${tmpf}/abc
+echo "${string}" >> ${tmpf}/abc
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -b -V
+
+# checks
+grep -r p1 ${tmpw} >/dev/null
+grep -r ${string} ${tmpw} >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "[ERROR] dotfile not installed" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/abc ] && echo "[ERROR] dotfile is not a symlink" && exit 1
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${tmp} ${tmpd}
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0
diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
index f1783f6..472069b 100644
--- a/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import random
 import tempfile
 
 from dotdrop.config import Cfg
+from dotdrop.utils import *
 
 TMPSUFFIX = '.dotdrop'
 
@@ -96,11 +97,9 @@ def load_config(confpath, profile):
 
 def get_path_strip_version(path):
     '''Return the path of a file as stored in yaml config'''
-    strip = path
-    home = os.path.expanduser('~')
-    if strip.startswith(home):
-        strip = strip[len(home):]
-    return strip.lstrip('.' + os.sep)
+    path = strip_home(path)
+    path = path.lstrip('.' + os.sep)
+    return path
 
 
 def get_dotfile_from_yaml(dic, path):
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 62100ac..6363806 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ class TestConfig(unittest.TestCase):
 
         # test profile
         opts = conf.get_settings()
-        print(conf.get_profiles())
         profiles = conf.get_profiles()
         self.assertTrue(pf1key in profiles)
         self.assertTrue(pf2key in profiles)