diff --git a/spec.go b/spec.go
index c4d0edf4..5564dd30 100644
--- a/spec.go
+++ b/spec.go
@@ -297,6 +297,9 @@ func validateSpec(spec *specs.LinuxSpec, rspec *specs.LinuxRuntimeSpec) error {
 	if spec.Process.Cwd == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Cwd property must not be empty")
 	}
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(spec.Process.Cwd) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Cwd must be an absolute path")
+	}
 	return nil
 }